Box Score    |     VIDEO: Brooke  Lancaster

SEATTLE – The Falcons' first shot accomplished what none of their 20 subsequent attempts could -- it found the back of the net. That proved to be enough.
 
Freshman Brooke Lancaster scored during the opening two minutes Saturday for Seattle Pacific, which completed a perfect, season-opening women's soccer homestand with a 1-0 win over Chico State at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (2-0) started the 2015 campaign on Thursday with a 2-0 triumph over Humboldt State in another non-conference contest.
 
Lancaster (Lake Tapps, Wash./Sumner HS) capitalized on the first foray of Saturday's game. She collected the ball in the center of the box and fired a hard shot that caromed off a defender and into the right side of the Chico goal at 1:48.
 
"Brooke was busy all day putting herself in good spots in the box," said SPU interim coach Arby Busey. "We talked about getting more numbers in and around the box to see if we couldn't pick up something that was left there.
 
"She listened, put herself in a good spot and ended up getting the only goal of the game."


 
Lancaster's goal held up as neither team was able to score during the final 88 minutes despite a 21-7 SPU shot advantage.
 
The Falcons nearly added in insurance goal in the 30th minute on a strong header off a corner kick by Isabel Farrell. Shayla Page nodded the ball from 10 yards out, but Chico goalkeeper Mackenzie Boulton dove to her left and grabbed the shot.

 

"It took a herculean effort to get past them today, as it always does. We're better for having played the game and it's a game that we look forward to," Busey said.
 
"They're a team that is very well coached and this was a good playoff-type atmosphere early in the season. It's beneficial for both teams whenever we get together because we make each other better."
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Molly Stinson (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville HS) was credited with two saves en route to her second shutout for the Falcons.
 
Boulton stopped four shots.
 
The hosts compiled a commanding 16-5 first-half shot margin. The second half was a defensive battle with only seven shots, five of them attempted by the Falcons.
 
Chico's (1-1) most dangerous opportunity came in the 85th minute when Lindsey Dias slipped a long through ball into the left side of the box. Carlie Reader raced toward the ball, but got there just as Stinson slide to collect the ball 15 yards from her goalmouth.
 
"We were not necessarily under siege in the second half, but they had us pinned in our own end for long spells in the second half," Busey described.
 
"But I don't know if we gave up anything that was really that dire or threatening. That's a credit to Molly, Shayla Page and Taylor Hauck, the leadership in the back, for putting the guys in front of them in good spots and organizing so that their job in the back is relatively easy."
 
The SPU women hit the road next week for the first time this season, playing two games in the Bay Area. They visit Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 10 and Cal State East Bay on Sept. 12.
 
"We're right on schedule with two wins here. It's now a new test for us to go on the road and see how we can do away from home," Busey said.
 
"I think the veteran core group that we've got is going to shine through and it's not going to be a huge issue to be on the road. We're hoping to minimize the distractions down there and get out against two more tough opponents on their fields."
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015
Interbay Stadium/Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 1, Chico State 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Brooke Lancaster, 1:48.
 
Shots – CSU 7, SPU 21.
Saves – CSU 4 (Mackenzie Boulton), SPU 2 (Molly Stinson).
Corner Kicks – CSU 0, SPU 6.
Fouls – CSU 12, SPU 13.
Offsides – CSU 0, SPU 1.
 
Records:
Seattle Pacific 2-0-0
Chico State 1-1-0
 
Next SPU Game:
Seattle Pacific at Notre Dame de Namur
Thursday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.
NDNU Soccer Field / Belmont, Calif.