Box Score                • Final Stats
 
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – They got even once. But the Seattle Pacific Falcons weren't able to do it twice on Thursday night in a showdown between nationally ranked women's soccer powers.
 
Elise Aylward scored an unassisted goal early in the second half to snap a 1-1 tie, and second-ranked Western Washington hung on to beat No. 23 Seattle Pacific in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game, 2-1.
 
The result at Orca Field gave the Vikings (8-0-0, 5-0-0 GNAC) sole possession of first place in the conference, dropping SPU (7-2-0, 4-1-0 GNAC) into second. It also snapped a seven-game Falcons winning streak, which they put together after a season-opening 2-1 loss at UC San Diego.
 
"They were dangerous tonight, but I thought we equalized very well," SPU coach Chuck Sekyra said. "We had some chances to get back in the game. We created some good chances, and we defended well. We just couldn't sustain any pressure on them for long periods of time."
 
The Falcons will return to action on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Burnaby, B.C., against Simon Fraser.
 
Aylward created her own chance for the game-winner, starting with the ball at the edge of the penalty area on the right side. She took several touches, cut inside the box and sent a left-footer into the far side of the net for her first goal of the year.
 
Junior defender Alexa Diaz (Seattle / Kennedy HS) lifted the Falcons into a 1-1 tie just before halftime at the 41:20 mark with her second goal of the season. Senior defender Josie Graybeal (Gig Harbor, Wash. / Gig Harbor HS) had the ball near the corner on the left side of the field and got it back to junior forward Heather Young (Lacombe, Alberta) just inside the edge of the penalty area.
 
Young chipped the ball to Diaz, who let loose with a shot straight in front of the goal just a step inside the box to beat Vikings goalkeeper Alyssa Beauchamp.
 
Diaz became the first opposing player this season to score against Western. The only previous goal against the Vikings was an own goal in a 4-1 victory against Montana State Billings on Sept. 21.
 
Western Washington took the initial lead at 28:49 when Brina Sych, playing just inside the top right corner of the box, looped an off-balance shot into the net from 15 yards away. That was her first goal of the season.
 
Senior SPU goalkeeper Natalie Harold (Vancouver, Wash. / Heritage  HS) was credited with nine saves.
 
The Falcons won't have to wait long to get another shot at Western. The two teams will play their return match next Saturday, Oct. 12, with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff at Interbay Stadium.
 
"I thought we were in it through and through to the end," Sekyra said. "We're certainly looking forward to playing them again."
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Orca Field / Bellingham, Wash.
 
(#2) Western Washington 2, (#23) Seattle Pacific 1
 
Scoring – 1, WWU, Sych (Kristin Maris, Ashton Griffen) 28:48; 2, SPU, Alexa Diaz (Heather Young, Josie Graybeal), 41:20; 3, WWU, Elise Aylward (unassisted), 54:45.
 
Shots – SPU 3, WWU 17.
Saves – SPU (Natalie Harold) 9, WWU (Alyssa Beauchamp) 1.
Corner kicks – SPU 2, WWU 5.
Fouls – SPU 9, WWU 11.
Offsides – SPU 0, WWU 1.
Attendance – 318
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 7-2-0, 4-1-0 GNAC.
Western Washington 8-0-0, 5-0-0 GNAC.
 
Next game
Seattle Pacific at Simon Fraser
Saturday, Oct. 5, 1:00 p.m.
Terry Fox Field / Burnaby, B.C.