Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. – Ian Adams and Mori Tsuchiya accomplished in 13 seconds what the Falcons have failed to do in a majority of their entire games.
 
Adams and Tsuchiya tied the school record for the fastest successive goals, scoring within 13 seconds of each other during the second half Thursday to lead 18th-ranked Seattle Pacific to a 3-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer road victory over Montana State Billings at Yellowjacket Field.
 
SPU (7-1-2) rebounded from its first setback of the season by matching its highest goal output of the year. The defending GNAC champions improved their league ledger to 3-1-2.
 
The three-goal outburst matches the Falcons total from the previous four games combined. They registered just their third multi-goal performance of the season.
 
"It's been hard for us to score two goals in a game, period, let alone in 13 seconds," Coach Mark Collings exclaimed.
 
"It shows that we have the ability to do it, which is a big thing for us mentally. As much as anything it's a reward for the work that the guys have put in and it helps us moving forward."
 
The SPU duo tied for 10th on the list of quickest back-to-back goals among NCAA Division II men's teams. They matched the 13-second feat of former Falcons Doug Morrill and Vasco Rubio, who netted swift successive scores in a 4-0 win over Jacksonville on Sept. 1, 1989 in Las Vegas.

 

On Thursday, sophomore forward Gabe Kellum (Rennes, France) assisted on both rapid-fire goals. He raced to reach a deflection on the endline and passed across the goalmouth for an easy finish by Adams at 61:50. That was the team-leading third goal of the year for the senior forward from nearby Shorecrest (Wash.) High School.
 
After the ensuing kickoff, Kellum collected the ball and slipped a through pass to Tsuchiya (Chief Sealth HS). The sophomore forward took a few dribbles before delivering a 25-yard blast into the upper right corner at 62:03.
 
"The first one we got there was great effort by Gabe. He and Ian didn't give up on the play and we got a great finish," Collings described. "Right away, Mori got sprung by Gabe and he just buried one. It was a huge lift for us.
 
"I've been saying this for a few weeks that if we just continued to do what we were doing it would be a matter of time before we put some of those away. Today we did and you could almost see our players' shoulders drop a little bit and relax, which is great for us. Hopefully that will lead to more results like this."
 
Adams and Tsuchiya each accounted for two goals during last three games.
 
Junior goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) stopped three shots in 81 minutes of action for SPU before being replaced for the first time all season. Senior reserve Rodney Greiling (Kentwood HS) was not called upon to make a save during the final nine minutes.
 
MSUB goalkeeper Tom Lehmann was credited with three saves.
 
In the first half, the Falcons fired several early shots and capitalized on their sixth attempt, which was the first directly on frame.

 

Jordan Kollars served a corner kick into the area, setting Chaz Jenkins up for a header that was blocked by a defender. Bryson Pavel got to the rebound in heavy traffic around the goalmouth and poked it in from five yards out at 16:57. That was the second score of the season for the senior defender.
 
At that point the Yellowjackets trailed 6-1 in the shot count, but they quickly picked up the offensive pace. MSUB forced saves from Lang in the 25th and 33rd minutes and narrowed the shot deficit to 8-6 by halftime.
 
The Falcons had two additional shots on goal during the opening 45 minutes, including a 30th-minute try by Matt Merchant from just inside the box that drew a sliding play by Lohmann to kick the ball out of danger.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-3-3) had their GNAC record evened at 2-2-2. They spoiled the shutout in the 80th minute on a goal by Daragh Kavanagh that was assisted by Julian Toenges.
 
For the game, the visitors posted a slim 14-13 shot edge over Billings.
 
The Falcons started the season unbeaten in eight games, with six wins and two draws, before losing 1-0 at Simon Fraser on Saturday.
 
Collings said that his team went back to basics this week in practice.
 
"I'm just really proud of this group of guys. We took a couple steps back this week and just really re-evaluated who we are as a team and what our identity is. Today we came out and really played the style and the brand makes us successful."
 
The Falcons conclude their four-game road trip in Bismarck, N.D. on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time conference game against the University of Mary.
 
The SPU men return home to Seattle for two games next week, versus Simon Fraser on Oct. 15 and Western Washington on Oct. 17. Kick-off for both games is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.

 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015
Yellowjacket Field / Billings, Mont.
 
(#18) Seattle Pacific 3, at Montana State Billings 1
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Bryson Pavel (Chaz Jenkins), 16:57; 2, SPU, Ian Adams (Gabe Kellum), 61:50; 3, SPU, Mori Tsuchiya (Kellum), 62:03; 4, MSUB, Daragh Kavanagh (Julian Toenges), 79:12.
 
Shots – SPU 14, MSUB 13.
Saves – SPU 3 (Cody Lang 3, Rodney Greiling 0), MSUB 3 (Tom Lohmann).
Corner kicks – SPU 8, MSUB 4.
Fouls – SPU 13, MSUB 12.
Offsides – SPU 2, MSUB 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 7-1-2, 3-1-2 GNAC
Montana State Billings 4-3-3, 2-2-2 GNAC
 
Next SPU men's game
Seattle Pacific at U-Mary
Saturday, Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m. PDT
Community Bowl / Bismarck, N.D.