Box Score    |   VIDEO: Laura  Moore

SEATTLE – Senior midfielder Laura Moore exceled in her 62nd career game for the Falcons so that coach Arby Busey could get a win in his first.
 
Moore scored the first goal and set up the second on Thursday, leading the Seattle Pacific women to a 2-0 non-conference soccer decision over Humboldt State in the season opener for both teams at Interbay Stadium.

 

The Falcons (1-0) got a victory in the Busey's head coaching debut. The nine-year SPU assistant took over on an interim basis when former coach Chuck Sekyra resigned in January.
 
"It feels great to do it with these girls," Busey said of the first result on his Falcons ledger. "This is a special group and I'm as happy for them as I am for myself. It's good to get that first one off of my back and now we can just move on from it."
 
Moore (Kent, Wash./Kentwood HS) netted the first score of the season in the 55th minute. Her 12-yard blast, from the center of the box, deflected off a defender and nestled inside the left post.
 
Less than 10 minutes later, in the 64th minute, Moore was credited with an assist. She served a low pass toward the right post for Hannah Huesers (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens HS), who sent a six-yard shot across the goalmouth into the left side-netting.
 
"Laura Moore was fantastic. She was in good places in the first half, but the ball didn't fall to her," said Busey. "In the second half the ball did fall to her, she was ready for it and capitalized on those opportunities.
 
"She is someone that is going to put herself in good spots, that's one of her strengths. And if we can find her in those places, it's great to see that she's putting the ball in the net and putting the ball to other people so they can score."
 
That was the initial score of the season for Huesers, a junior forward, who led all Great Northwest Athletic Conference players with 15 goals in 2014.
 


Sophomore goalkeeper Molly Stinson (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville HS) stopped three shots en route to the shutout for the Falcons.
 
SPU controlled the early run of play, compiling six shots before their opponent's first try at goal in the 39th minute. The hosts' best opportunity came in the 14th minute when Huesers broke free into the box before unleashing a low shot that forced HSU goalkeeper Caitlin Plese to deflect the ball away with her foot.
 
"We brought a little bit more energy in the second half. There are some nerves in the first game that you are trying to play through," Busey described. "Halftime may have come at a good time for us. It just settled us down a little bit. Then we came out in the second half with a little more fight in us, for sure."
 
Plese collected eight saves for Humboldt, which was outshot by a 22-7 margin. The shot count was 16-2 after intermission.
 
The Lumberjacks (0-1) came on strong late in the first half. They attempted the final five shots before halftime, all of them during the final seven minutes. Their most dangerous chance was a 39th-minute blast by Bridget Daley that caromed off the crossbar.
 
Five players saw their first ever action in an SPU uniform, including starter Maddie Sjothun (Vancouver, Wash./Union HS). The sophomore defender transferred from Northern Arizona University prior to the season.
 
A quartet of freshmen also made their inaugural Falcons appearance: Julia DeVere, Brooke Lancaster, Sydnee Smith and Kaytlin Willis.
 
The SPU women close out the season-opening homestand on Saturday at Interbay Stadium. They host Chico State at noon.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 2, Humboldt State 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Laura Moore, 54:24; 2, SPU, Hannah Huesers (Moore), 63:55.
 
Shots – HSU 7, SPU 22.
Saves – HSU 8 (Caitlin Plese), SPU 3 (Molly Stinson).
Corner Kicks – HSU 6, SPU 3.
Fouls – HSU 9, SPU 6.
Offsides – HSU 1, SPU 0.
 
Records:
Seattle Pacific 1-0-0
Humboldt State 0-1-0
 
Next SPU Game:
Chico State at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Sept. 5, 12 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.