Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. – Many coaches are content to get a draw and pick up one point in a soccer road game. Seattle Pacific coach Mark Collings is not one of them.
 
Cody Lang registered two saves en route to his eighth shutout, but the offense couldn't score and ninth-ranked Seattle Pacific settled for a 0-0 double-overtime tie against Concordia in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's game Thursday at Tuominen Yard.
 
"Our guys are disappointed with the draw," Collings said. "We certainly don't come out and play for draws, so any day that we don't put a check mark in the win column our guys won't be pleased with that.
 
"The effort was there. We played hard, we competed and unfortunately we just didn't put a ball in the back of the net."
 
The defending GNAC champion Falcons (10-1-3) moved to 6-1-3 in league play and retained their hold on the top spot in the standings with 21 points.
 
SPU saw its four-game winning streak stopped with the second tie this season against the Cavaliers. The teams drew 1-1 on Sept. 26 in Seattle.
 
Tying is a familiar result for Concordia (5-3-5), a first-year GNAC member that recorded draws in half of its league contests en route to a 3-2-5 mark.
 
The Cavaliers succeeded in stifling an SPU attack that amassed 14 goals in its previous four outings.
 
"Concordia really made us work for every shot we got, so credit to them," said Collings. "Defensively they did a good job, they worked extremely hard.
 
"When you have good athletes, you are organized and you play together you're going to be tough to break down. So we had a hard time breaking them down tonight and when we did, we didn't quite have the composure to put things away like we have the past couple games."
 
The game included a 17-minute delay after the stadium went dark with 4:13 left in the first overtime. The lights came back on and play resumed at 7:16 p.m.
 
Collings thought the blackout might have impacted the outcome.
 
"It benefited them if anything. They were looking pretty tired during that run of the game. They got a chance to regroup. We felt like we kind of had them on their heels a little bit, so it gave the a chance to get their bearings and get re-organized.
 
"It may not have been a huge benefit, but certainly we felt like we were in a pretty good rhythm at that moment."
 
The game started 25 minutes late due to a double-overtime women's game in the opener of the soccer doubleheader. So a game that was supposed to start at 4:30 p.m. didn't end until 7:36 p.m.
 
The Falcons outshot the hosts 19-8, including a 10-3 advantage during the second half. They had two great chances in that period.

 

Jordan Kollars (Central Kitsap HS) served a dipping corner kick into the box, but teammate Gabe Kellum's (Rennes, France) volley was blocked by a Cavaliers defender in the 58th minute.
 
In the 80th minute, SPU's Ian Adams (Shorecrest HS) fired a shot from a sharp angle that carried just wide of the right post.
 
Concordia's most dangerous opportunity came with seven seconds remaining in regulation when Eli Gaynor sent a point-blank, 8-yard shot into the left outside netting.
 
"Defensively we were good," Collings said. "Cody only needed to make two saves on the night, so defensively I can't complain. Just offensively we needed a little bit of what we had the past couple games."
 
Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) registered his 26th career shutout, the fourth-highest figure in school history. He ranks No. 4 nationally with a 0.43 goals against average.
 
Mitch McCaw was credited with three saves for the Cavaliers and picked up his second clean sheet.
 
The Falcons play their final regular-season road game on Saturday at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. They visit Nampa, Idaho to clash with Northwest Nazarene.
 
The Crusaders own a 6-3-1 league ledger and are in second place, just two points back of SPU. Saturday's winner will be in first place going into next week, the second-to-last week of the season. The Falcons will retain their leading position with a tie. They played to a scoreless draw with NNU in this year's first meeting, on Sept. 24 in Seattle.
 
The SPU men then close out the campaign with three consecutive home games. They entertain U-Mary on Oct. 29, Montana State Billings on Oct. 31 and Saint Martin's on Nov. 7.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015
Tuominen Yard / Portland, Ore.
 
#9 Seattle Pacific 0, at Concordia 0 (2ot)
 
Scoring – None.
 
Shots – SPU 19, CU 8.
Saves –SPU 2 (Cody Lang), CU 3 (Mitch McCaw).
Corner kicks – SPU 3, CU 7.
Fouls – SPU 12, CU 20.
Offsides – SPU 2, CU 2.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 10-1-3, 6-1-3 GNAC
Concordia 5-3-5, 3-2-5 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2:00 p.m.
NNU Soccer Field / Nampa, Idaho