Box Score

BELMONT, Calif. – Different venue … same result.
 
Fifth-ranked Seattle Pacific posted another 1-0 men's soccer victory, getting its first road win on Thursday behind a 13th-minute goal from Stephen MacDonald in a non-conference decision over Notre Dame de Namur at Koret Field.
 
The undefeated Falcons (3-0) have not surrendered a goal during their trio of 1-0 triumphs, the first two coming at home last week. They matched Coach Mark Collings' 2009 squad that also opened with three clean sheets.
 
The school record for shutouts to start a season is four, established in 1993.
 
Thursday's matchup was a defensive battle with only 11 total shots attempted. SPU had six of those, and capitalized on the second shot for the game's lone goal.
 
MacDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.) received a back pass from senior Ian Adams (Shorecrest HS) and scored from the top of the box at 12:14. That was the first strike of the season for the junior forward, who topped the team with nine goals in 2014.
 
"Jeffrey (Collings) sent a great ball into Ian Adams, who was able to penetrate to the end line and cut it back to Stephen for a one-time finish," described Coach Mark Collings. "Stephen finished it back to the left after a pass from the right. He smashed it."
 
The Falcons lit the scoreboard early for the second straight outing. They got a sixth-minute tally from Danny Olivas against Chico State on Sept. 5 in Seattle.
 
"The early goal allowed us to settle in a little bit, knowing that we have the lead and we have a lot of confidence in our ability to defend," Collings said. "It allowed us to maybe relax and gave us some confidence. Being the first time on the road, it just helped settle us down a little bit."

 

Junior goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) was called upon to make just one save en route to his third shutout. He moved into the No. 6 spot among SPU's all-time leaders with 20 career shutouts.
 
Lang's single save came at a big time, preventing the potential game-tying score in the 87th minute. He grabbed an eight-yard header by Jack Ewert after a long throw in.
 
That was just the second shot directly on goal this season by an SPU opponent and the 20th attempt overall.
 
"It's not only our backs. They have been very good, but the midfelders and the forwards have done a really good job of putting pressure and not allowing teams to sit up there and pass without being pestered," Collings said.
 
 
"We spent a lot of time in preseason getting everybody to buy into defending. When you have the talent that we do going forward, it's just a matter of time before we start banging in more goals. In the meantime, early in the season we have to be able to grind."
 
Alex Clewis made one save in goal for the Argonauts (0-3).
 
The Falcons stay in the Bay Area to play Cal State East Bay on Saturday. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Pioneer Stadium in Hayward.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015
Koret Field/Belmont, Calif.
 
(#5) Seattle Pacific 1, Notre Dame de Namur 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Stephen MacDonald (Ian Adams), 12:14.
 
Shots – SPU 6, NDNU 5.
Saves – SPU 1 (Cody Lang), NDNU 1 (Alex Clewis).
Corner Kicks – SPU 2, NDNU 0.
Fouls – SPU 16, NDNU 7.
Offsides – SPU 2, NDNU 4.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 3-0-0
Notre Dame de Namur 0-3-0
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Seattle Pacific at Cal State East Bay
Saturday, Sept. 12, 7:00 p.m.
Pioneer Stadium / Hayward, Calif.