Box Score

INDEPENDENCE, Ore. – Kelly Gould scored for the first time this season and Julie DeVere added an insurance goal Thursday to lead Seattle Pacific to a 2-0 victory over Western Oregon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game at Central High School.
 
The Falcons (9-3-4) maintained their third-place position, improving to 6-2-3 in league play. They conclude the regular season in Portland, Ore. on Saturday with a clash against fourth-place Concordia.
 
SPU entered the day tied for third with Simon Fraser, but the Clan lost and dropped into a fourth-place tie with Concordia entering the final day of competition. The Falcons need at least a draw on Saturday to guarantee a top-four finish and secure a place in the GNAC Tournament semifinals. They can advance with a loss if Simon Fraser loses to Northwest Nazarene.
 
The league tournament semifinals will be conducted Nov. 3 at Terry Fox Field in Burnaby, B.C. The championship is slated for Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.
 
WOU (5-11-1) completed its season with a 2-9-1 GNAC record.
 
"We outscored an opponent today that was up for us," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "It was for sure their last game of the season and that can provide a boost and they certainly played as though it was their last time together."
 
The Wolves actually had a 15-11 shot advantage and put eight directly on frame to just six for SPU. But the visitors were more accurate, slipping two past goalkeeper Caitlin Kastelic, who compiled four saves.
 
Senior goalkeeper Molly Stinson (Woodinville HS) registered seven saves en route to her fifth clean sheet of the season. SPU was credited with an eighth save, as a defender cleared a Wolves shot in the goalmouth, and now has seven shutouts as a team.
 
"This time of year you're just trying to find ways to get it in the net and we certainly found a couple opportunities in the first half," Busey said. "We caught them against the run of play on the first goal and then did a good job to tack on a second before halftime. In the second half we just kind of saw out the game and kept them at bay at 2-0."
 
The opening goal occurred 16:22 into the contest off the foot of Gould (Archbishop Murphy HS). Hannah Huesers delivered a pass from 30 yards out into the box. Gould received it on the left side and spun to finish from 12 yards into the right side of the WOU goal.
 
"It was sent into the box and she caught it on a volley," Busey said. "Great goal from a kid who's been really working so hard over the last six, seven months. It's great to see Kelly rewarded for something like that."

 

Sixteen minutes later DeVere (Squalicum HS) increased that lead. She netted her second goal of the season on a brilliant 16-yard strike to the right side of the goal off a through pass from Sydnee Smith (Skyview HS) at 32:12.
 
"Jules made a great run across the face of their back line," Busey described. "Sydnee saw an opening and slipped a ball in behind the back line. Jules was able to get on the ball and finish a breakaway. Jules timed her run really well and the weight of Sydnee's pass was fantastic."
 
That Falcons will be playing for their playoff lives Saturday knowing that a win or tie gains them a GNAC Tournament invitation and a loss puts that possibility in jeopardy. SPU and Concordia battled to a 1-1 tie through two overtimes in this year's first meeting, on Oct. 6 in Seattle.
 
"It will be a barn-burner," Busey said of Saturday's encounter. "It was a great game when we played them at our place and I don't expect any less when we see them again here on the road.
 
"They are a very talented team and a team that has hung around and now have an opportunity. We understand and know that we're going to get their best and we're going to attempt to do the same to bring our best Saturday night in what could be a play-in game."

 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016
Central High School / Independence, Ore.
 
Seattle Pacific 2, at Western Oregon 0
 
                     1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific      2   0  --    2
Western Oregon       0   0  --    0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Kelly Gould (Maddie Sjothun), 16:22; 2, SPU, Julia DeVere (Sydnee Smith), 32:12.
 
Shots – SPU 11, WOU 15.
Saves – SPU 8 (Molly Stinson 7, Team 1), WOU 4 (Caitlin Kastelic).
Corner Kicks – SPU 3, WOU 4.
Fouls – SPU 10, WOU 11.
Offsides – SPU 1, WOU 2.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 9-3-4, 6-2-3 GNAC
Western Oregon 5-11-1, 2-9-1
 
Next SPU Women's Game
Seattle Pacific at Concordia
Saturday, Oct. 29, 6:00 p.m.
Tuominen Yard / Portland, Ore.