Box Score                • Final Stats      |      • VIDEO: Jordan Kollars

SEATTLE – Sophomore Bryson Pavel headed in the equalizer 50 seconds into the second half Saturday as Seattle Pacific tied Western Washington 1-1 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer game at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (6-1-2) fell into second place despite an undefeated 4-0-2 league ledger. They have 14 points, one fewer than top-ranked Simon Fraser (5-1-0 GNAC) which SPU defeated 2-1 on Thursday.
 


Western (5-2-3) remains in third place with a 3-0-3 GNAC record.
 
"Tonight was one that got away from us," SPU coach Mark Collings exclaimed. "We had the better of the play. It was maybe the best we've knocked the ball all year, which says a lot because we've had some good games."
 
The Vikings capitalized on a corner kick to start the scoring at 23:28. Jeremy Wentzel served the kick from the left corner toward the far post. Troy McCarty out-jumped a defender to direct a seven-yard header into the upper right corner for his fourth goal of the season.
 
WWU took that 1-0 lead to the locker room at halftime, but it was erased less than one minute into the second half.
 
Pavel's 12-yard header from the near post, off a free kick from the right flank by freshman Jordan Kollars, sailed into the top left corner at 45:50. That was his second goal of the season.
 
"It was really big for us," Collings said of the quick second-half strike. "You saw our confidence grow and the confidence they had was gone immediately after halftime.
 
"It definitely changed the game for us. We came into halftime feeling down a little bit. To get that goal right away was a good energy boost for us."
 
The Falcons outshot WWU 11-4 during the second half and then 5-1 during the two, 10-minute overtime sessions.
 
Red-shirt freshman goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) stopped two shots for the Falcons.
 
Keegan Rogers made seven saves for WWU, which trailed 26-11 in the final shot count. He denied a potential game-winner in the second minute of the last overtime, tipping a hard shot by Ian Adams over the crossbar.
 
Both teams had dangerous first-half offensive opportunities. In the seventh minute, WWU's Andrew Weishaar broke free into the box, but his 15-yard shot was deflected wide left of the goal by Falcons keeper Lang. The Vikings came close again when a 35-yard shot by Gabriele Zaccagnini caromed off the right post.
 
Rogers compiled five saves before halftime for the visitors, including two brilliant diving deflections. He dove to his left to push a 25-yard attempt by Sean Russell past the right post in the 15th minute and parried a Stephen MacDonald header past that same right post in the final minute of the first half.
 
The Falcons best chance before the break came on a free kick by Danny Olivas. His 25-yard shot traveled inches wide of the right post in the 33rd minute.
 
 "We put them under a lot of pressure and their goalkeeper made some great saves tonight," Collings said. "Unfortunately this is the game that we love and hate at the same time. It's a cruel game, but it is what it is and we move on."
 
The SPU men close out a five-game homestand on Saturday when Saint Martin's visits Interbay Stadium for a 4:30 p.m. league contest.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 1, Western Washington 1 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, WWU, Troy McCarty (Jeremy Wentzel), 23:28; 2, SPU, Bryson Pavel (Jordan Kollars), 45:50.
 
Shots – WWU 11, SPU 26.
Saves –WWU 7 (Keegan Rogers), SPU 2 (Cody Lang).
Corner Kicks – WWU 8, SPU 9.
Fouls – WWU 23, SPU 10.
Offsides – WWU 0, SPU 1.
Attendance – 514.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 6-1-2, 4-0-2 GNAC
Western Washington 5-2-3, 3-0-3 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Saint Martin's at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Oct. 12, 4:30 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.