Box Score    |    Final Stats

BILLINGS, Mont. – Senior Haley Ayers netted her first collegiate goal with just under 13 minutes to play Thursday, lifting the Seattle Pacific women to a 1-0 win over Montana State Billings in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference soccer game at Yellowjacket Field.
 
The Falcons (7-2-3) improved to 4-1-2 in league play. They have lost just once in their last nine outings.

 

Neither team had any extremely dangerous opportunities until Ayers (Everett HS) struck at 77:13. SPU's Brooke Pingrey served a corner kick into the box that rattled around off a few players during a goalmouth scramble. Ayers found the bouncing ball and volleyed it in from close range for the decisive tally.
 
"Haley did a good job keeping herself busy and it kind of fell to her," SPU coach Arby Busey described. "It was bobbling around in there, she jumped on it and smacked it past the goalkeeper."
 
The senior defender has played 61 career games, but never before found the back of the net in 16 previous shots.
 
Busey was thrilled that Ayers was finally rewarded after all of her diligent work on set pieces.
 
"It's awesome. She's somebody that we utilize on corner kicks. Haley does a great job of doing what we ask her to do on corners, so it was nice to see that get paid today. She was good all day on those, being in good spots and being disciplined in terms of what her role is on that corner."
 
The already stingy SPU defense clamped down even further, allowing just one shot the rest of the way. Jessica Spang's 82nd-minute try from the left side sailed high.
 
The Falcons have limited conference opponents to an average of only 0.54 goals per game, including three shutouts.
 
"The defense has been great. When they've been called upon, they've been up to the task," Busey said. "The great thing about it is we've kind of moved bodies in and out of there. We've had some injuries along that line and the guys that have been filling in have been fantastic stepping up to the plate.
 
"They are committed to keeping the ball out of our net and really worked hard today to keep a shutout. Hopefully today is just building some momentum towards some other shutouts."

 

Junior goalkeeper Molly Stinson (Woodinville HS) was credited with two saves en route to her third shutout and the team's fifth clean sheet. She has blanked 12 opponents during 37 career starts.
 
Lili Delgadillo had one save for the Yellowjackets (3-7-2), who were outshot by a 12-10 count. They had their GNAC record evened at 3-3-1.
 
The only attempt directly on goal during the opening 45 minutes came off the foot of SPU's Simone Herzberg. Her shot from outside the box was grabbed by Delgadillo.
 
The hosts had two shots on frame, both of them second-half attempts that were saved by Stinson. Spang fired from inside the box in the 53rd minute and MSUB teammate Claire Tevaseu had a shot in the 76th minute.
 
The SPU women return to Seattle for a three-game homestand that begins on Saturday versus Simon Fraser with a 4 p.m. clash at Interbay Stadium.
 
"It will be nice to be home. We're excited about being able to drop an anchor and be in our building for a few games in a row," said Busey. "We play well there and we're excited to be hosting the opponents that we're playing because we've got some good opponents coming up as well."
 
Please note that Saturday's kick-off could be changed to an earlier time due to the potential for inclement weather. Visit the SPU athletics website (www.spufalcons.com) on Friday to check for updates.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016
Yellowjacket Field / Billings, Mont.
 
Seattle Pacific 1, at Montana State Billings 0
 
                          1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific           0   1  --    1
Montana State Billings    0   0  --    0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Haley Ayers, 77:13.
 
Shots – SPU 12, MSUB 10.
Saves – SPU 2 (Molly Stinson), MSUB 1 (Lili Delgadillo).
Corner Kicks – SPU 5, MSUB 1.
Fouls – SPU 4, MSUB 6.
Offsides – SPU 2, MSUB 0.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 7-2-3, 4-1-2 GNAC
Montana State Billings 3-7-2, 3-3-1 GNAC
 
Next SPU Women's Game
Simon Fraser at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Oct. 15, 4:00 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.