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SEATTLE – Seattle Pacific junior Isabel Farrell scored at the end of the first half Saturday, but sixth-ranked Western Washington netted the equalizer in the 87th minute to force a 1-1 double-overtime tie in the clash of Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer powers at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (3-1-1) saw their league record move to 1-0-1, including Thursday's 4-1 decision over Simon Fraser that was Coach Chuck Sekyra's 200th win.
 
"I'm proud of my kids. We played well tonight and had our chances to win," Sekyra said. "I'm just really pleased with the type of soccer we played tonight. That's a very physical, very direct team that is hard to play against."
 

 
Western (5-0-1) added a draw to its previously perfect record and is also 1-0-1 in GNAC play.
 
The Vikings controlled the run of play early on, attempting three shots before SPU sent its first try goalward. The momentum swung in the Falcons favor as they forged a 9-1 shooting advantage the rest of the half.
 
"They came out and high pressed and were very direct," said Sekyra. "They made things difficult. I certainly didn't think we lost our composure and then we started settling in, playing our game, finding the ball and creating some chances."
 
One of those chances finally struck paydirt at 39:43 after SPU pressure on the Vikings back line forced a poor clearance by a defender. The ball rolled outside the box to the onrushing Farrell, who first-timed a curving, 21-yard shot that nicked the inside of the left post as it nestled high into the netting.
 
"Izzy was reading the ball coming across. All the way along she's seeing that ball and she knows she's going to strike it and beat the keeper," Sekyra described.
 
"She had an idea five yards before she even got to the ball, she knew where the keeper was and how she was going to hit that ball. It was awesome. She's such a smart player, such a talented kid."
 
A transfer from the University of Washington, Farrell (Redmond, Wash./Interlake HS) is tied for the team lead with four goals. Two of her scores were game-winners and the other two were go-ahead goals.
 
That was the first goal surrendered this season by the Vikings. They started the 2014 campaign with a stretch of 489 scoreless minutes before Farrell's goal 5:17 before halftime.
 
Western drew level with just 3:14 left in regulation on a 22-yard free kick that Elise Aylward launched into the upper left corner. The set piece was awarded after Jessica Bertucci was fouled at the top of the arc by SPU's Taylor Hauck, who drew a yellow card on the play.

 

Senior goalkeeper Alexa Hughes (Everett, Wash./Archbishop Murphy HS) stopped seven shots for the Falcons.
 
Ashley Haden was credited with five saves for Western, which was outshot by a slim 17-15 margin.
 
These two teams shared the league hardware last year. The Falcons won the 2013 GNAC Tournament trophy after Western won the regular-season crown. The Vikings defeated SPU 2-0 in the 2013 NCAA Division II Tournament West Region semifinals en route to a national semifinal berth.
 
The SPU women are on the road next week for two conference games. They visit Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 1, #6 Western Washington 1 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Isabel Farrell, 39:43. 2, WWU, Elise Aylward (fk), 86:46.
 
Shots – WWU 15, SPU 17.
Saves – WWU 5 (Ashley Haden), SPU 7 (Alexa Hughes).
Corner Kicks – WWU 5, SPU 4.
Fouls – WWU 19, SPU 19.
Offsides – WWU 7, SPU 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 3-1-1, 1-0-1 GNAC
Western Washington 5-0-1, 1-0-1 GNAC
 
Next SPU Women's Game
Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene
Thursday, Sept. 25, 3:00 p.m.
NNU Soccer Field / Nampa, Idaho