Box Score    |     Final Stats

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Stephen MacDonald registered an assist and goal in quick succession Saturday to cap 10th-ranked Seattle Pacific's four-goal, first half barrage en route to a 5-0 men's soccer victory over South Dakota School of Mines at Sioux Park Stadium.
 
The Falcons (6-0-1) remain atop the Great Northwest Athletic Standings with a perfect 3-0 record. All three of their league outings have taken place on the road, including Thursday's 2-1 double-overtime decision at the University of Mary that was won on a golden goal with 49 seconds left to play.
 
Seventh-year SPU coach Mark Collings credited the momentum from that last-minute win with carrying over Saturday.
 
"The other night, the second half we were in such a great rhythm, but we were just having a hard time putting balls away. So tonight, being in a good playing rhythm and then scoring goals made it a lot easier for us. It was a confidence boost for us to pull out a game like that on Thursday."

 

MacDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.) contributed to a pair of goals during the final four minutes of the first half Saturday. He assisted on Jordan Kollars' (Silverdale, Wash./Central Kitsap HS) score at 41:22 and then netted a goal of his own just 2:25 later, a 44th-minute strike from a Garrett Jones (Boise, Idaho) assist.
 
Sean Russell (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS) sent SPU to a quick start with a goal 4:57 into the game off a feed from Matt Merchant (Portland, Ore.). That was the team-leading fourth goal of the season for the senior forward.
 
"Certainly getting that first goal gave us a lot of confidence," said Collings. "From there we settled into a really great rhythm and our midfield dictated the game quite a bit, which was really helpful tonight."
 
An errant header by a Hardrockers' defender off a cross into the box at the 31-minute mark resulted in an own goal that accounted for SPU's second score.
 
The lone second-half tally came in the 49th minute off the foot of red-shirt freshman Gabe Kellum (Rennes, France). His inaugural goal as a Falcon was set up by a through ball from Jordan Thompson (Bellevue, Wash./Newport HS).
 
SPU senior goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) did not need a save to record his fifth shutout. He has surrendered just two goals in 669 minutes between the posts.
 
The Hardrockers (1-6-0) did not send an attempt directly on goal and were outshot 11-4. They dropped to 0-3 in GNAC games.
 
Eric Milbrandt made South Dakota's only save before giving way at halftime to reserve goalkeeper Braeden Federle.
 
The five-goal output was the highest for SPU since a similar 5-0 victory on Nov. 3, 2012 against Saint Martin's.
 
The Falcons negotiated a treacherous early schedule with a 1-1 draw at Chico State the lone blemish on the seven-game ledger.
 
"Certainly we really happy to have a bunch of wins right now and we're going to look to build on it with home games the next two weeks," Collings said.
 
"When you take a look at your schedule at the beginning of the year and you realize that five of your first seven are on the road, it's daunting. To come out of it without a loss is a huge boost for us."
 
The SPU men return to Seattle for a four-game home stand that begins on Thursday against Western Washington. Kick-off is 4:30 p.m. at Interbay Stadium as the opener of a soccer doubleheader with the Falcons women who play at 7 p.m.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014
Sioux Park Stadium/Rapid City, S.D.
 
#10 Seattle Pacific 5, at South Dakota Mines 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Sean Russell (Matt Merchant), 4:57. 2, SPU, own goal, 31:00 3, SPU, Jordan Kollars (Stephen MacDonald), 41:22. 4, SPU, Stephen MacDonald (Garrett Jones), 43:47. 5, SPU, Gabe Kellum (Jordan Thompson), 48:11.
 
Shots – SPU 11, SDM 4.
Saves – SPU 0 (Cody Lang), SDM 1 (Eric Milbrandt 1, Braeden Federle).
Corner Kicks – SPU 10, SDM 4.
Fouls – SPU 10, SDM 11.
Offsides – SPU 6, SDM 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 6-0-1, 3-0-0 GNAC
South Dakota Mines 1-6-0, 0-3-0 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Western Washington at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, Oct. 2, 4:30 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.