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PORTLAND, Ore. – After nearly 100 minutes of her team leaning on the ropes, Hannah Huesers summoned a knockout punch.
 
Scoring in the dying seconds of the first overtime period, Huesers secured Seattle Pacific's ticket to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament by giving the Falcons a 1-0 victory against Concordia at Tuominen Yard.
 
SPU is now headed to a semifinal meeting against Central Washington on Thursday at Terry Fox field in Burnaby B.C. Kickoff time is 4:00 p.m. Regular-season champion Western Washington faces host Simon Fraser in the 7:00 p.m. semifinal.
 
The Falcons had entered the match needing a win or draw to clinch a spot in the tournament, while the Cavaliers were facing a must-win situation to make the postseason.
 
Rated seventh in this week's West Region rankings, Seattle Pacific swept a two-game road trip to conclude the regular season at 10-3-4 and 7-2-3 in conference, good for third place. Concordia ended the season at 10-4-3 overall and fifth in the GNAC at 5-4-3.
 
Fully aware of their predicament, the Cavaliers applied more and more pressure as the second half wore on.
 
While they dominated the shot count at 22-6, rarely was SPU goalkeeper Molly Stinson (Jr., Woodinville, Wash.) sent scrambling. The final occasion came in the 94th minute when Bobbi Eckler wriggled free at the top of the box and forced Stinson to dive to turn the ball out for a corner kick.
 
Just when it appeared the teams would switch ends for a second overtime, Huesers struck. Concordia's defensive clearance was pumped back over the top of the onrushing back line by Kelly Gould (Sr., Everett, Wash./Archbishop Murphy) while Huesers beat the offside trap to find herself alone with Cavs keeper Olivia Brock.
 
Huesers lifted the ball over the advancing Brock and into an empty net at 99:43. It was her 10th goal of the season and 45th of her illustrious career, leaving her just four shy of the school record. It was the 14th career game-winner for Huesers.
 
It was Stinson's sixth shutout and fourth in the last six games. Her 13 saves was a career high.
 
Concordia had ratcheted up the urgency as the second half progressed. That, in turn, created late regulation opportunities for the visitors.
 
Just 10 minutes after halftime, the Cavaliers' Mackenzie Cleveland escaped two challenges during a long run down the left channel before forcing Stinson to parry her shot from 6 yards.
 
Toward the 80th minute, Concordia's pressure reached a peak. Off a counterattack, Eckler cracked a drive toward the right corner, but Stinson went down to her left to shove it wide.
 
It was substitute Simone Herzberg who was on the end of the Falcons' first clear chance of the evening. She got behind the defense and, luring Brock off her line, chipped from the top of the box just past the upper left corner.
 
Brock did not make her first save until 75 seconds remained in regulation, handling a Huesers attempt from close-range.
 
Neither side managed much in terms of a strong scoring chance in the first half. Stinson's four saves off eight Concordia shots were routine. Kayla Braunthal was open from 10 yards in the 25th minute, but popped her kick straight to Stinson. In the 40th minute, Maddie Misi steered her header from a corner kick just wide left of the post.
 
Seattle Pacific is now 5-1-1 on the road. It was just the second home loss for Concordia, which ended the year with only one win in its final five outings.
 
SPU won the conference tournament in 2013 and 2014. The Falcons are seeking a return to the NCAA tournament for the 14th straight year. Berths are to be announced Nov. 7. 
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016
Tuominen Yard / Portland, Ore.
 
Seattle Pacific 1, at Concordia 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Hannah Huesers (Kelly Gould) 99:43.
 
Shots – SPU 6, CU 22.
Saves – SPU 13 (Molly Stinson), CU 1 (Olivia Brock).
Corner kicks – SPU 2, CU 6.
Fouls – SPU 9, CU 13.
Offsides – SPU 4, CU 0.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 10-3-4, 7-2-3 GNAC.
Concordia 10-4-3, 5-4-3.
 
Next game
Seattle Pacific vs. Central Washington
Thursday, Nov. 3, 4:00 p.m..
Terry Fox Field / Burnaby, B.C.