Box Score    |     VIDEO: Danny  Olivas

SEATTLE –Saturday's kick-off started 30 minutes late due to lightning near Interbay Stadium. Once the contest commenced, Danny Olivas didn't hesitate to serve up a strike of his own.
 
A sixth-minute tally from the senior midfielder powered the eighth-ranked Seattle Pacific men to a 1-0 non-conference soccer win over Chico State.
 
The Falcons (2-0) completed their season-opening homestand with a pair of 1-0 shutout victories. They posted an overtime triumph over California Baptist on Thursday.
 
Olivas registered Saturday's lone score off a perfect pass from junior forward Stephen MacDonald. After a dribbling run down the right side, MacDonald broke free and sent a low pass across the box. Olivas received the ball on the left side and finished with an eight-yard shot at 5:53.


 
"That was a really, really good goal" SPU coach Mark Collings exclaimed. "It started with a good ball out of the back played forward to Ian (Adams), who was able to find Stephen. Everyone in the stadium probably thought Stephen was going to shoot, but he cut it back to find Danny, who slotted it home with a great one-time finish."
 
Olivas and MacDonald teaming up for a goal is not a new phenomenon. They played prep soccer together for two years at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
 
"They have good chemistry," Collings said of his desert duo. "We've been fortunate to get some great players out of Arizona. It's an area that we feel like we can recruit, there's so many good players down there and it's a place we do spend some time in our recruiting.  Fortunately for us, we got Danny and then Stephen followed him after."
 
In Olivas, the Falcons found a clutch performer, as six of his eight career scores were game-winning goals.

 

MacDonald led SPU's offense in 2014 with nine goals and eight assists.
 
Omar Nuno had the three best scoring opportunities for Chico, but failed to finish any of them. His hard volley from the right side of the box carried just wide of the left post in the 10th minute. He narrowly missed to the left with a 20-yard free kick in the 69th minute, after he was fouled just outside the box by SPU defender Garrett Jones.
 
On the Wildcats' final foray, Nuno broke free into the left side of the box before sending a low attempt across the goalmouth that went two yards wide of the right post with just 3:23 remaining on the clock.
 
Andrew Matthews made two saves for the Wildcats (0-1), who were outshot 16-9, including an 11-3 deficit during the first half.
 
"That first 45 minutes was some of the best soccer that we've played in quite some time," Collings said.
 
SPU senior defender Bryson Pavel (Boise, Idaho) nearly netted an insurance goal in the 83rd minute, but his header from a free kick caromed off the crossbar.
 
"We were a little unlucky not to put a couple goals away," said Collings. "Their guys battled and refused to let balls go in. They were sliding and diving, the goalkeeper made a couple big saves and one hit off the crossbar late. Those will go in eventually.
 
"I'm just thrilled that defensively we held up and were able to get a win."
 
Junior goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) was not required to make a save en route to his second clean sheet of the season. He has blanked 19 opponents during this three-year SPU career.
 
Saturday's game kicked off at 7:30 p.m., instead of the 7 p.m. schedule time due to a late-afternoon lightning storm in Seattle. The weather remained dry and clear for the full 90 minutes.
 
The Falcons embark on a three-game road trip next week, beginning with two games in the Bay Area. They visit Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 10 and Cal State East Bay on Sept. 12.
 
"This will be our first time on the road, so it will be a new challenge for us just like the game starting a little bit later tonight," Collings observed. "You always have these obstacles that are unforeseen. That's where maturity and hopefully our experience comes into play.
 
"Our guys have seen a lot and they've been in a lot of big games. So hopefully they understand that when we go on the road it takes a little bit more focus and concentration."
 
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference campaign commences on Sept. 19 at Saint Martin's.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
(#8) Seattle Pacific 1, Chico State 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Danny Olivas (Stephen MacDonald), 5:53.
 
Shots – CSU 9, SPU 16.
Saves – CSU 2 (Andrew Matthews), SPU 0 (Cody Lang).
Corner Kicks – CSU 2, SPU 8.
Fouls – CSU 20, SPU 10.
Offsides – CSU 1, SPU 5.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 2-0-0
Chico State 0-1-0
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Seattle Pacific at Notre Dame de Namur
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2:00 p.m.
NNU Soccer Field / Belmont, Calif.