Box Score    |     • VIDEO: Coach Mark  Collings

SEATTLE – Despite a disappointing draw, the defense continues to demolish the record book.
 
Cody Lang registered six saves and kept his season-long clean sheet intact as the third-ranked Seattle Pacific men battled to a 0-0 draw with No. 22 Northwest Nazarene in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference soccer clash at Interbay Stadium.
 
"For sure we were tested more than we have been. We gave up nine shots in the first half and Cody had three saves in the first half," said SPU coach Mark Collings.
 
"They did ask some different questions of us and our guys reacted well at halftime and sorted some things out. Defensively we were pretty good down the stretch."
 
The Falcons (5-0-1) remained undefeated and moved to 1-0-1 in league play. They have not surrendered in goal this season, covering a span of 563 minutes.
 
The school record for shutouts to start a season, that stood at four since 1993, has been shattered. Now this SPU squad is setting sights on the program's overall mark. This year's six clean sheets mark the Falcons longest overall shutout string since 2011. The school-record of 10 straight shutouts was established in 1991.


 
SPU posted a 12-8 shot advantage after halftime Thursday to narrow a 17-14 deficit for the game. The hosts held a 4-1 shot margin in the second, 10-minute overtime, including consecutive attempts from junior Jordan Kollars (Central Kitsap HS) in the 105th minute.
 
The Falcons closest scoring chance came in the 65th minute when junior Chaz Jenkins (Everett HS) sent a shot off the left post. He collected the carom near the right post, but his put-back attempt was blocked at the goal line by an NNU defender.
 
"We were a little bit unlucky not to score a goal tonight, but that's kind of been our thing. We've struggled to find the back of the net," Collings said. "We created three or four really good chances tonight, but I think we need to double that.
 
"We should be looking to create somewhere between eight to 10 quality opportunities and then we need to put a few more on goal. That will be our focus in the next 48 hours."
 
The Crusaders (5-1-1) matched SPU's 1-0-1 GNAC record. They were runners-up to the conference champion Falcons in 2014.

 

Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) had three saves in each half and then was not tested during overtime. He blanked his sixth opponent this season.
 
Lang's career shutout total increased to 23, moving him into a tie with Zach Johnson (2009-12) for the No. 4 spot in that category among all-time SPU keepers.
 
NNU's most dangerous opportunity came on the final shot of the first half. Dennis Vivar-Diaz stroked a low shot from the center of the box that carried just wide of the left post in the 44th minute. That sent the Crusaders into halftime with a 9-2 lead in the shot count.
 
"Northwest Nazarene was very good in the first half and caused quite a few issues for us. We were probably fortunate to be 0-0 at the half," said Collings. "In the second half and overtime the game evened out a little bit and maybe we had the better of the game. At the end of the day, I don't think we were great today, but I think they had a lot to do with that."
 
The Falcons remain at home to host first-year GNAC member Concordia, from Portland, Ore., on Saturday. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.
 
"We have a very good Concordia team coming in and we're a little tired now after overtime," Collings concluded. "We will definitely need some of our depth to perform on Saturday night."
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at #3 Seattle Pacific 0, #22 Northwest Nazarene 0 (ot)
 
Scoring – None.
 
Shots – NNU 17, SPU 14.
Saves – NNU 3 (Ryan Foo 2, Team 1), SPU 6 (Cody Lang).
Corner Kicks – NNU 5, SPU 3.
Fouls – NNU 16, SPU 10.
Offsides – NNU 3, SPU 2.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 5-0-1, 1-0-1 GNAC
Northwest Nazarene 5-1-1, 1-0-1 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Concordia at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, Sept. 26, 7:00 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.