Box Score    |     Final Stats

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Falcons achieved something that has never been done. Now they want do something that five previous teams have accomplished.
 
Jordan Kollars netted a golden goal 12 seconds into the second overtime Saturday, lifting the fourth-ranked Falcons to a 2-1 triumph over Western Washington and securing a Seattle Pacific men's soccer record 11-game winning streak.
 
SPU (12-0-1) boast the program's longest stretch of consecutive victories after matching the 1991 team's 10-game record with Thursday's 2-1 win at Simon Fraser. The current 11-game streak started with a 2-0 home win over Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 13 following the lone blemish on the schedule, a 1-1-tie at Chico State on Sept. 6.
 
"It's certainly special to win 11 games in a row," seventh-year coach Mark Collings exclaimed. "There are so many things that come into play when you talk about records, different players, and different eras. It's just the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people."
 
The SPU men are one of only seven undefeated teams left at the NCAA Division II level. Along with the record win streak, they are off to the best opening to a season and longest unbeaten start in the 47-year history of the program.
 
"It's fun to be a part of history, especially with so much tradition that we have at Seattle Pacific," Colling said. "To have this team be a part of the legacy of SPU Soccer is really great."
 
Collings is a big part of that legacy, not only as the current head coach. He was a four-year letterman and captained the 1998 Final Four team.
 
Ultimately, Collings wants to bring this 2014 team to the Final Four and add a sixth national championship trophy to SPU's collection. The school captured its five NCAA crowns in 1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1993.
 
The Falcons made their first visit to WWU's new Harrington Field a memorable one. They fell behind in the 56th minute when Tye Hastings tallied his fourth goal of the season for the Vikings.
 
Sophomore forward Jordan Thompson scored the equalizer in the 74th minute, forcing the sudden-death overtime sessions.
 
The Falcons outshot their hosts 4-1 during the first overtime, but were still tied 1-1 with one 10-minute overtime remaining.

 

Three quick passes after the kick-off, right-side defender Jeffrey Collings (Seattle, Wash./Ballard HS) launched a long ball over the top of the WWU defense. Kollars raced into the box to reach ball and deftly flicked a 12-yard shot high into the upper left side of the goal for the game-winner at 100:12.
 
"Jordan is one of the more composed guys on our team," Coach Collings said. "He would be one of the guys that you'd want in that situation. It's good to know that he's going to have the composure to put a good shot on frame in that situation."
 
SPU remains in first place with a perfect 9-0-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference record. Western (6-6-1) had its league record leveled at 4-4-1.
 
Junior Rodney Greiling (Kent, Wash./Kentwood HS) drew his first start in goal for the Falcons in place of the injured Cody Lang and stopped two shots.
 
Keegan Rogers made five saves for the Vikings, who were outshot by a 19-8 margin.
 
SPU swept the season series, including a 3-1 win over WWU on Oct. 2 in Seattle.
 
Passes from Gabriele Zaccagnini and Luke Olney freed Hastings in the left side of the SPU box for the opening goal. Hastings dribbled rapidly toward the left post before lining a 10-yard blast across the goalmouth and into the right inside netting at 55:02.
 
Olney is the son of former college standout Reece Olney, who played at SPU from 1986-90 and was a teammate of Mark Collings.
 
Hastings' team-leading fourth score was the first goal SPU has surrendered this season after halftime. All six previous opponent goals came during the first half.
 
Stephen MacDonald, who scored both goals in Thursday's win, created the tying goal at 73:38. He dribbled into the left side of the box, drawing the WWU goalkeeper off his line. MacDonald raced past Rogers and reached the end line before serving a centering pass to Thompson, who slipped an eight-yard shot inside the right post.
 
That was the fifth goal of season for Thompson (Bellevue, Wash./Newport HS), tying him for the SPU lead with MacDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.), who tops the team with six assists.

 

MacDonald nearly got the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute, but his attempt caromed off the right post and the Northwest rivals ended regulation tied 1-1.
 
SPU picked up the pressure in overtime, getting off three quality shots in the opening 3:12 of the first extra period. Two of them were saved and the other, a hard 25-yard try by Kollars, went wide left.
 
Kollars (Silverdale, Wash./Central Kitsap HS) would not miss his next attempt, registering the first game-winning goal of his career. The sophomore midfielder provided SPU with its sixth one-goal win of the season.
 
"We really dug one out tonight," Collings described. "We didn't have our best stuff tonight, but we just kind of kept fighting and looked for some energy. Fortunately we found some and were able to get a big victory in overtime."
 
During the scoreless first half, the Falcons compiled a 5-2 shot advantage and had a few good opportunities. Their first attempt came in the 11th minute on a low shot by Sean Russell that was deflected past the left post on a dive by Rogers.
 
SPU's closest chance came seven minutes before halftime when Bryson Pavel gathered the rebound off an attempt by Chaz Jenkins that was blocked and sent a low 20-yard shot through traffic and just wide of the right post.
 
WWU didn't pose any threat until a 36th-minute through ball nearly found a forward before goalkeeper Greiling cleared it with his foot just outside the box.
 
The Vikings didn't get a shot off until 39:40 into the contest when Kurtis Pederson collected the clearance of his team's corner kick and tried a long shot. His effort was blocked before even reaching the 18-yard box.
 
The only other Western attempt in the first half was dangerous. An SPU giveaway and through pass gave Dan Anderson open space in the right side of the box. His 15-yard shot was saved at the right post by Greiling.
 
The Falcons return home for a pair of conference games, hosting South Dakota School of Mines on Thursday and the University of Mary on Saturday. Both games have 7 p.m. kick-offs at Interbay Stadium.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014
Harrington Field / Bellingham, Wash.
 
#4 Seattle Pacific 2, at Western Washington 1 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, WWU, Tye Hastings (Gabriele Zaccagnini, Luke Olney), 55:02. 2, SPU, Jordan Thompson (Stephen MacDonald), 73:38. 3, SPU, Jordan Kollars (Jeffrey Collings), 100:12.
 
Shots – SPU 19, WWU 8.
Saves – SPU 2 (Rodney Greiling), WWU 6 (Keegan Rogers 5, team 1).
Corner Kicks – SPU 7, WWU 3.
Fouls – SPU 9, WWU 14.
Offsides – SPU 2, WWU 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 12-0-1, 9-0-0 GNAC
Western Washington 6-6-1, 4-4-1 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
South Dakota Mines at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, Oct. 23, 7:00 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.