Box Score    |     VIDEO: Molly  Stinson

SEATTLE – Sophomore goalkeeper Molly Stinson compiled a career-high 10 saves Saturday for seventh-ranked Seattle Pacific, which opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer play with a 0-0 double-overtime draw against Simon Fraser at Interbay Stadium.
 
In a battle between the league's only undefeated teams, both left without a loss. SPU's record moved to 4-0-1 while the Clan are now 2-0-2.
 
"It was a hard-fought game. It was two teams that are deservedly undefeated at this point," said SPU's interim coach Arby Busey. "It was tough to find goals for both squads."
 
Despite the scoreless outcome, there was end-to-end action and numerous chances for each team.
 
The Falcons fired 21 shots, six of them by senior forward Isabel Farrell (Interlake HS). They sent nine shots directly on goal, forcing SFU goalkeeper Priya Sandhu to make nine saves.
 
Stinson (Woodinville HS) faced an 18-shot barrage after seeing just 27 shots combined in the team's first four games. The 10 saves matched her season total entering the contest and enabled Stinson to record her fourth shutout.



The Clan's most dangerous opportunity came 2:23 into the first 10-minute overtime session. Christina Dickson slipped through the SPU defense for a breakaway, but her 14-yard shot was turned away by Stinson's sliding save.
 
"That one was huge, with the timing of where it was in the game," Busey exclaimed. "We felt like we were going to get one and we started to push more numbers forward and take a bit more risk. They caught us, and Molly bailed us out.
 
"That kid was in clean, one-v-one. There's no one but Molly to stop it and she came out and was brilliant in that moment. Simon Fraser certainly asked us some questions and she responded with the answers."
 
Stinson's counterpart in the Clan goal was similarly stellar and also had a game-saving stop on her resumé.
 
"The goalkeepers for both teams had moments where they bailed out the guys in front of them and that's their job," said Busey. "They were both very good. Simon Fraser's goalkeeper was outstanding and made a couple world-class saves to keep us from putting the ball in the net."
 
Sandhu twice denied point-blank shots by the Falcons. Farrell was alone near the left post in the 20th minute, but her attempt was parried off the goal line.
 
"On that play, I thought it was in, but she threw her right hand on it," Busey described. "Her hand came out of nowhere. It was as good a save as I have been on the sideline for.
 
"All credit to her and her teammates in front for making life really, really difficult for us tonight."

 

In the 59th minute, Farrell blasted a 20-yard free kick that the Clan goalkeeper deflected near the left post. She then blocked Laura Moore's follow-up attempt before Moore quickly sent a second shot wide.
 
Along with the brilliant goalkeeping, both defenses benefitted from a cooperative crossbar on the west end.
 
Farrell bounced one off the crossbar with seven minutes left in the first half and SFU's Katelyn Erhardsen had a shot carom off the same spot seven minutes into the second half.
 
The Falcons have never lost to Simon Fraser in 11 all-time meetings. They won nine games and have now tied twice.
 
"This is one that's a little disappointing," Busey said. "But at the end of the day, we weren't that much better enough to get the result. It's a tie. It's not what we came to get, but I think we'll be okay"
 
The SPU women embark on their first GNAC road next week, visiting Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 24 and Saint Martin's on Sept. 26.


NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.

at #7 Seattle Pacific 0, Simon Fraser 0 (2ot)

Scoring – None.

Shots – SF 18, SPU 21.
Saves – SF 9 (Priya Sandhu), SPU 10 (Molly Stinson).
Corner Kicks – SF 4, SPU 8.
Fouls – SF 4, SPU 8.
Offsides – SF 4, SPU 7.

Records
Seattle Pacific 4-0-1, 0-0-1 GNAC
Simon Fraser 2-0-2, 0-0-1 GNAC

Next SPU Women's Game
Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene
Thursday, Sept. 24, 3:30 p.m.
NNU Soccer Field / Nampa, Idaho