Box Score                • Final Stats      |      • VIDEO: Jordan Kollars

SEATTLE – Freshman Jordan Kollars assisted on the first two goals Saturday, starting Seattle Pacific on its way to a 3-0 men's soccer victory over Saint Martin's in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (7-1-2) extended their unbeaten streak to nine games, having not lost since the season opener on Sept. 7. They stayed undefeated in league games with a 5-0-2 record.
 
"It's definitely a great run that we are on, but the thing that I'm most excited about is that we're getting better," said SPU coach Mark Collings.
 


Red-shirt freshman defender Davis Karaica opened the scoring just over seven minutes after halftime, converting a corner kick from the right side by Kollars. From the center of the goalmouth, Karaica (Snoqualmie, Wssh./Mount Si. HS) directed an eight-yard header high and inside the near post at 52:05.
 
Kollars initiated the second scoring play with a through ball from midfield. Freshman Stephen MacDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.) controlled the ball and dribbled 25 yards before flicking a low, 16-yard shot inside the right post at 60:44 for his team-leading fourth goal.
 
That came from the team-high fourth assist for Kollars (Silverdale, Wash./Central Kitsap HS). He distributed three assists during the last two games.
 
"Jordan understands the game really well and he's a tremendous passer. His vision and his confidence on the ball are really beyond his years," Collings described. "When he comes in the game he really provides us with something different.
 
"He's able to sit and watch the game and figure out where the spots are that we need to exploit. Then he does a good job of putting the ball in those spots. He's quite an asset to have coming off the bench for sure."
 
Sophomore Matt Merchant (Portland, Ore.) capped the scoring at 87:57 on a penalty kick to the lower right of the Saints goal after Ian Grissom was fouled in the box.
 
Red-shirt freshman goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) stopped three shots en route to his fourth shutout for the Falcons.
 
Eric Owen made four saves for SMU, which was outshot by a 13-6 margin. Saint Martin's (3-7-1) dropped to 3-3-1 in GNAC play.
 
The teams battled through a scoreless first half.
 
The best scoring chance in the first period came on a 35th-minute header by the Saints Dylan Gaydosh. His attempt toward the right post was thwarted by Lang, who dove to gather the ball.
 
The Falcons finest opportunity before halftime came on an open look from Ian Adams from 17 yards away. His hard shot travelled high over the crossbar in the 26th minute.
 
"Despite having a poor first half today, we're getting better every time we come on the field," Collings said. "We're starting to see glimpses of how good we can be.
 
"I'm excited for the day we put together 90 minutes because we might be able to really do something special."
 
The SPU men hit the road for two games next week, beginning on Thursday at Northwest Nazarene. Their next home game at Interbay Stadium is Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m. against U-Mary.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 3, Saint Martin's 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Davis Karaica (Jordan Kollars), 52:05; 2, SPU, Stephen MacDonald (Kollars), 60:44; 3, SPU, Matt Merchant (pk), 87:57.
 
Shots – SMU 6, SPU 13.
Saves –SMU 4 (Eric Owen), SPU 3 (Cody Lang).
Corner Kicks – SMU 4, SPU 4.
Fouls – SMU 15, SPU 7.
Offsides – SMU 1, SPU 4.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 7-1-2, 5-0-2 GNAC
Saint Martin's 3-7-1, 3-3-1 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene
Thursday, Oct. 17, 3:30 p.m. PDT
NNU Soccer Field / Nampa, Idaho