Box Score    |     Final Stats

SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific women outshot Montana State Billings 20-6 and hit the crossbar three times, but neither team found the back of the net Thursday as they battled to a 0-0 double-overtime tie in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference soccer game at Interbay Stadium.
 
While frustrated at the lack of goals, Coach Chuck Sekyra likes what he sees from his Falcons.
 
"I'm pleased. Billings is averaging giving up five shots a game and we got 20. We didn't get what we wanted for a result, but I just looked at my team and I enjoyed that game. They did so many things well from organization in the back to our possession through the midfield."
 
Thursday continued a recent trend during this homestand where SPU racks up a lofty shot count that does not produce a correspondingly high goal output.
 
The Falcons combined to outshot the last three opponents by a lopsided 64-18 margin. But they have only a 1-1-1 record to show for it, as opponents equaled their two-goal total during that period.
 
They lost 1-0 to Central Washington on Oct. 2 with a 24-8 shot advantage, then beat Saint Martin's 2-1 on Oct. 4 with a 20-4 lead in shots.
 
 "We're getting whatever we want at times, the ball's just not going in," Sekyra said, jokingly adding that, "we certainly are fond of the crossbar. As I told my team, there is some skill there because the crossbar is way smaller than the goal."
 
The Falcons (5-3-2) and Billings (5-2-2) both saw their league records move to 3-2-2.

 

SPU compiled a 5-4 shot edge during the first half and had the more dangerous opportunities. Junior Isabel Farrell (Redmond, Wash./Interlake HS) broke free on the left side of the box in the 20th minute and unleashed a blast that required MSUB goalkeeper Krystal Daniels to make a diving deflection.
 
In the 39th minute, SPU's Laura Moore (Kent, Wash./Kentwood HS) had a long shot nick the crossbar on its way over the top.
 
The Yellowjackets best chance came off the foot of Ashely Marra in the 21st minute. She broke loose into the right side of the SPU area and delivered a 15-yard strike directly at goalkeeper Alexa Hughes. Their only other shot on frame came in the first minute of the final overtime when Chelsea Shuman's attempt was snared by Hughes.
 
The Falcons dominated the second half, outshooting the visitors 11-1 during that span. Several of those attempts were near misses for SPU, including a 77th-minute shot by Hannah Huesers (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens HS) that caromed off the crossbar.
 
During the two 10-minute overtime sessions, the Falcons registered a 4-1 lead in the shot count. In the second overtime, Farrell lashed a shot off the crossbar with four minutes left to play.
 
Hughes (Everett, Wash./Archbishop Murphy HS) was credited with two saves while MSUB's Daniels stopped four shots.

 

"It's tough to have a tie, but my team played well again," said an optimistic Sekyra. "I look at our schedule thus far and I don't know if any team has outplayed us.
 
"We need to keep believing that if we keep bringing this level of play, attacking and defending-wise together, we're going to start getting what we want and we're going to go on a roll."
 
The SPU women stay in Seattle to host Northwest Nazarene on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is 1 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.
 
After Saturday, the Falcons play five of their final six regular-season games on the road.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 0, Montana State Billings 0 (2ot)
 
Scoring – None.
 
Shots – MSUB 6, SPU 20.
Saves – MSUB 4 (Krystal Daniels), SPU 2 (Alexa Hughes).
Corner Kicks – MSUB 1, SPU 8.
Fouls – MSUB 13, SPU 10.
Offsides – MSUB 1, SPU 4.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 5-3-2, 3-2-2 GNAC
Montana State Billings 5-2-2, 3-2-2 GNAC
 
Next SPU Women's Game
Northwest Nazarene at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Oct. 11, 1:00 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.