Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. – Stephen MacDonald netted the go-ahead goal with less than eight minutes to play Thursday and Mori Tsuchiya added another six minutes later as Seattle Pacific defeated Concordia (Ore.) 3-1 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer game at Tuominen Yard.
 
The Falcons (5-5-5) snapped a brief two-game losing streak with their first road win in seven tries this season. Their league ledger moved to 3-3-4.
 
Senior defender Jeffrey Collings started the scoring at 24:29, booting in a loose ball in the Concordia goalmouth. SPU teammate Keenan dePinna created the situation by bending a free kick from just outside the box toward the right corner, forcing CU goalkeeper Alcorn to dive to deflect the shot.

 

That was the second career goal for Collings, both of them this season, matching the number of goals recorded by his father Mark, the current head coach who also played defender for the Falcons (1995-98).
 
"The good news for me is that I control the lineup so I guess I can make sure that he doesn't beat me," Collings joked.
 
The senior Collings posted his 99th career coaching victory, improving his nine-year SPU mark to 99-40-29.
 
Collings deferred the credit to his players for placing him one away from the 100-win milestone.
 
"It just says that we've had a lot of really good players. Coaching at this level, we're fortunate that we have a great university that is attractive to a lot of people and they just happen to be good soccer players as well. I've been really blessed."
 
Thursday's one-goal lead held for 36 minutes before the Cavaliers equalized. Christian Thyron intercepted a pass and served a cross into the box that Jordan Potts flicked on with his head toward Erick Urzua, who slid the ball into the goal at 60:30.
 
Just when it seemed the Falcons might be headed for their seventh overtime game of the year, MacDonald came up with the game-winning goal for the third time this season and the 11th of his career. Tsuchiya sent a low cross into the box from the right flank that was deflected by a defender right to MacDonald, who finished at the far post from seven yards out.

 

The first two SPU scores were second-chance efforts made possible by players following up teammates' shots.
 
"It's something that we actually wish we would have had last week," said Collings. "There were a couple last week that we thought we were a little late so it's something we talked about this week in training, just being on our front foot and ready and expecting things to be there for us.
 
"Tonight we were able to take advantage. The guys looked hungry inside the box and we were able to put some balls in the back of the net."
 
The lead was secured with 1:34 to play when Tsuchiya broke free into the CU box and scored from a sharp angle on the left side. That was his second goal of the year.
 
The Falcons accumulated a 20-13 shot advantage, including a 10-2 margin during the opening 45 minutes. After halftime they were outshot 11-10.
 
"In the first half we moved the ball around pretty well and created some good scoring chances and were able to score a goal," Coach Collings described. "In the second half they put us under a little bit more pressure and the game opened up. They had a run where they were able to score and our response the last 10 to 15 minutes was really good."
 
The Cavaliers (4-8-2) dropped to 1-7-1 in GNAC play.
 
The SPU men complete the road portion of their schedule on Saturday in Lacey, Wash. They take on Saint Martin's at 3:15 p.m.
 
Collings is concerned that the recent weather in the Puget Sound area will lead to an extremely wet field Saturday.
 
"With all the rain that we've had and playing on a natural grass surface, I don't expect the field to be in great condition. It will probably be one of those games where we just have to have supreme focus and do the best we can to settle the game down and not turn it into an open game. On a slick field like that it come sometimes really hurt you."

NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016
Tuominen Yard / Portland, Ore.

Seattle Pacific 3, at Concordia 1

                      1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific       1   2  --    3
Concordia             0   1  --    1

Scoring – 1, SPU, Jeffrey Collings, 24:29; 2, CU, Erick Urzua (Christian Thyron, Jordan Potts), 60:30; 3, SPU, Stephen MacDonald, 82:22; 4, SPU, Mori Tsuchiya, 88:26.

Shots – SPU 20, CU 13.
Saves – SPU 2 (Cody Lang), CU 4 (Grant Alcorn).
Corner Kicks – SPU 3, CU 6.
Fouls -- SPU 8, CU 17.
Offsides – SPU 1, CU 2.

Records
Seattle Pacific 5-5-5, 3-3-4 GNAC
Concordia 4-8-2, 1-7-1 GNAC

Next SPU Men's Game
Seattle Pacific at Saint Martin's
Saturday, October 29, 3:15 p.m. PDT
SMU Soccer Field / Lacey, Wash.