Box Score                 • Final Stats       

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Falcons future was their present on Saturday as two freshmen played leading roles.
 
Forward Stephen MacDonald netted the game-winning goal for the second consecutive contest and goalkeeper Cody Lang posted his third shutout, leading the Seattle Pacific men to a 1-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference soccer victory over the University of Mary at Community Stadium.
 
The Falcons (4-1) picked up their fourth straight win and improved to 2-0 in league competition.
 
MacDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.) collected the ball 35 yards out and beat a defender before cutting to his left just outside the box. He sent a low 20-yard blast into the left side of the Marauders goal at 53:36. The left-footed strike accounted for his second goal of the season.
 
"We really felt that he was fantastic in the preseason and obviously when we saw him in the recruiting process we were really high on Stephen," SPU coach Mark Collings said. "He's just starting to figure out college soccer.
 
"Tonight he was dangerous and had a couple other opportunities tonight as well that just went wide. He's a handful to deal with. Everything start with Stephen's work rate and then he has the finesse game to put the ball away as well."
 
On Thursday, MacDonald's 69th-minute tally proved decisive in a 2-1 win at South Dakota School of Mines. He has a point in each of the last three games, including an assist in last Saturday's 2-0 home win over Notre Dame de Namur.
 
U-Mary nearly equalized in the 65th minute, but a shot from close range by Jordan Pearce was smothered by Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS).
 
"Their player was only six yards out and I'm thinking in my head it's 1-1," Collings recalled. "Cody pulled a save out."
 
The Falcons red-shirt freshman netminder denied four shots.
 
"Cody Lang probably has his best game of the year tonight. He really came up big on a couple occasions," said Collings.
 
"We haven't given up a lot of quality chances and when teams have had them we've been fortunate that Cody's either come up with saves or they missed. Tonight it was Cody coming up with big-time saves for us."
 
Jack West made six saves for the Marauders (0-4), who have lost both of their GNAC outings this season.
 
Each team attempted 13 shots, but SPU sent seven directly on goal to just four for U-Mary.
 
The Falcons return home to Interbay Stadium for two games next week. They entertain Northwest Nazarene on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and Montana State Billings on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013
Community Stadium/Bismarck, N.D.
 
Seattle Pacific 1, at University of Mary 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Stephen MacDonald, 53:36.
 
Shots – SPU 13, Mary 13.
Saves –SPU 4 (Cody Lang), Mary 6 (Jack West).
Corner Kicks – SPU 5, Mary 3.
Fouls – SPU 14, Mary 11.
Offsides – SPU 3, Mary 2.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 4-1-0, 2-0-0 GNAC
U-Mary 0-4-0, 0-2-0 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Northwest Nazarene at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, Sept. 26, 4:30 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.