Box Score    |    Final Stats    |    VIDEO: Jordan  Kollars

SEATTLE – Jeffrey Collings is a defender who made a massive offensive impact Thursday. He wasn't the only person serving dual roles as the Falcons' head coach is also his father.
 
Collings scored his first collegiate goal and assisted on two others, leading Seattle Pacific to a 4-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer victory over Saint Martin's at Interbay Stadium.
 
The game started at 4:30 p.m., 2-1/2 hours earlier than the scheduled 7 p.m. kick-off time due to concerns about the high winds projected for the evening in the Puget Sound area.
 
The Falcons (4-3-5) improved their league ledger to 2-1-4. After losing the GNAC opener at currently third-ranked Simon Fraser on Sept. 22, they are unbeaten in the last six outings.


 
SPU's Sam Malloch was fouled at the edge of the box, setting up a free kick 15 yards to the right of center. Jordan Kollars drove a low, 19-yard shot past the defensive wall and straight inside the left post for the opening goal at 25:17. That was the first goal of the season for the senior midfielder who leads the squad with six assists.
 
Freshman Samuel Agyei (Cascade HS) enabled the Falcons to take a 2-0 lead into the locker room with a goal 1:09 before halftime. His eight-yard header, off a long cross by Collings from the right flank, found the near side of the visitor's goal.
 
 "We scored some timely goals. The goal before halftime was really big," said SPU coach Mark Collings. "Anytime you can get some momentum heading into the half and maybe settle us down a little by getting a second goal, was pretty helpful.
 
"Jordan took a great free kick to get us started and then a really good header by Samuel Agyei in the box."
 
Another free kick from Kollars (Central Kitsap HS) set up Collings' inaugural goal. The long service set the senior right outside back up for a six-yard strike at 65:11.

 

Mark Collings wore his coaching hat during the game, but his parental instincts took over when the game ended.
 
"Now after the game, seeing his excitement, you certainly are excited for him as a dad as well as a coach. In the moment it was more of a big goal that gives us a big cushion. That's more what I was thinking then and now that it has time to sink in, of course as a dad it's great."
 
Coach Collings still has bragging rights at home for now as he scored two career goals for the Falcons, both of them coming during his senior season in 1998.
 
Jeffrey (Ballard HS) played a role in three of the team's four goals. He helped the Falcons stretch the margin to 4-0 with another serve from the right flank. This cross found forward Gabe Kellum for a diving header near the left post at 69:03.
 
"Jeffrey had a tremendous game today and it's really what we thought we could get out of him when we started the year. Unfortunately taking that injury in the second game, he wasn't really able to get into a rhythm," Coach Collings said of his son, who was sidelined five games with an injury.
 
"Now that he's starting to get a little more healthy and his fitness is starting to come back we're hopeful that we can continue to get him into the attack a little bit more because he does serve a great ball and he loves getting up and down that flank. Hopefully this is just a sign of things to come."
 
Saint Martin's (2-8-1) fell to 1-4-1 in GNAC play.
 
The Saints got two late goals to spoil the shutout. Kaleb Strawn scored in the 71st minute and assisted on Kyle Witzel's tally in the 82nd.

 

Starting goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS) collected three saves in 76 minutes for SPU before being replaced by Kary Whitney, who stopped one shot.
 
Griffin Small made four saves for the Saints, who held a 17-16 edge in the shot count.
 
The win capped a stretch of five consecutive home games during which SPU compiled a 2-0-3 record.
 
"For us to finish up the homestand the way we have with a couple wins is huge," Coach Collings exclaimed. "I'm not sure there are many teams in the county that could sustain everything that we have this year and still be playing games that are meaningful at this point in the season.
 
"That's a testament to the character of each one of those guys. Every time there has been something, we've responded really, really well. Whether it's giving up an early goal or giving up a goal after the half and then us scoring right away after, injuries, suspensions. Whatever the case has been, the response has been phenomenal."
 
The Falcons hit the road for their next four games, beginning next Thursday, Oct. 20, in Nampa, Idaho. They clash with Northwest Nazarene at 3:15 p.m. in a rematch of their scoreless draw on Oct. 1 in Seattle.
 
"Now we're winning so hopefully that gives us a lot of confidence," Collings concluded. "I see this group really starting to come together and there's a belief, it's not fake, it's real. There's a belief in this group now and hopefully we can take that on the road on Thursday."
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 4, Saint Martin's 2
 
                     1   2  -- TOTAL
Saint Martin's       0   2  --   2
Seattle Pacific      2   2  --   4
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Jordan Kollars, 25:17; 2, SPU, Samuel Agyei (Jeffrey Collings), 43:51; 3, SPU, Collings (Kollars), 65:11; 4, SPU, Gabe Kellum (Collings, Jess Cayetano), 69:03; 5, SMU, Kaleb Strawn (Mamadou Leigh), 70:18; 6, SMU, Kyle Witzel (Strawn), 81:20.
 
Shots – SMU 17, SPU 16.
Saves – SMU 4 (Griffin Small), SPU 4 (Cody Lang 3, Kary Whitney 1).
Corner Kicks – SMU 5, SPU 3.
Fouls – SMU 14, SPU 6.
Offsides – SMU 0, SPU 6.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 4-3-5, 2-1-4 GNAC
Saint Martin's 2-8-1, 1-4-1 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene
Thursday, October 20, 3:15 p.m.
NNU Soccer Field / Nampa, Idaho