Box Score  |  • Final Stats
 
CHICO, Calif. – Junior Ian Adams scored the equalizing goal eight minutes into the second half Saturday as Seattle Pacific tied Chico State 1-1 in a double-overtime, non-conference men's soccer game at University Soccer Stadium.
 
The Falcons (1-0-1) remained unbeaten after starting the season on Thursday with a 1-0 win over Humboldt State.
 
"It was a high-level game, a tremendous soccer game," said SPU coach Mark Collings. "Chico is very good, and we played really hard. It was probably a fair result as both teams had their opportunities tonight."
 
The Wildcats (1-0-1) owned the early run of play and attempted the game's first three shots, including a try by Akwafei Ajeakwa that caromed off the post just over eight minutes into the contest.
 
Chico broke through in the 11th minute when Justin Walmsley volleyed in a free kick from Patrick Lee.
 
In Thursday's season-opening 3-0 win over Dominican, all three Wildcat goals came off re-starts.
 
"The one thing that Chico is very good at is set pieces," Collings explained. "They have four goals in two games and all four of them are off set pieces. They were able to get us on one tonight."
 
Momentum swung midway through the first half as SPU closed with six straight attempts for a 9-6 shot advantage at intermission. One of those shots was cleared off the goal line by a defender and another was denied on a foot save by goalkeeper Luke Dennison.
 
"Early on it was pretty frantic and that played into their hands a little bit," said Collings. "We started to get ahold of the game towards the end of the first half and into the second half."
 
The Falcons had a chance to equalize just 1:35 after halftime when Stephen MacDonald was fouled inside the box, but Matt Merchant was unable to convert the penalty kick. Dennison dove to his left to deflected the kick and then saved Merchant's follow-up shot to the right side.
 
SPU's streak of unanswered shots reached 10, and that one found the back of the net. Adams (Shoreline, Wash./Shorecrest HS) directed an 18-yard blast into the upper left corner of the goal at 53:20. A crossing pass from MacDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.) on the right flank set up the leveling score.

 

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Falcons' sophomore goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) made three of his six saves during the final half hour of regulation to preserve the tie and force overtime.
 
Lang faced three quick shots in the opening 1:32 of the first overtime. He made a spectacular save on the first, while the others went high and wide.
 
SPU's lone attempt in the first 10-minute overtime session came off a corner kick by Danny Olivas that was headed wide of the goal by Evan Robicheau.
 
Chico compiled a 4-2 shot edge during the two extra periods.
 
Dennison was credited with four saves for the Wildcats, who were outshot 18-15 for the game.
 
"If we can play as hard as we did tonight, we'll be really happy with the season," Collings said. "Time will tell. Hopefully Chico will play as well as they did tonight and we can repeat our performance.
 
"If we both win a lot of games, this tie won't be too bad."
 
The draw was representative of the equality of the all-time series that now stands at 19-18-3 in favor of Seattle Pacific. The Wildcats took a pair of 1-0 decisions from the Falcons last year, with Walmsley netting the lone goal in the 2013 season opener.
 
Chico knocked SPU from the NCAA Tournament last fall with a first-round victory.
 
The Falcons host their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 13 against Notre Dame de Namur. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium as the nightcap of a doubleheader with the SPU women who play NDNU at 4:30 p.m.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014
University Soccer Stadium/Chico, Calif.
 
Seattle Pacific 1, Chico State 1 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, Chico, Justin Walmsley (Patrick Lee), 11:00; 2, SPU, Ian Adams (Stephen MacDonald), 53:20.
 
Shots – SPU 18, Chico 15.
Saves – SPU 6 (Cody Lang), Chico 5 (Luke Dennison 4).
Corner Kicks – SPU 11, Chico 5.
Fouls – SPU 12, Chico 15.
Offsides – SPU 3, Chico 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 1-0-1
Chico State 1-0-1
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game
Notre Dame de Namur at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Sept. 13, 7:00 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.