Box Score    |    Final Stats

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Freshman Carlos Franco came off the bench to score the equalizer in the 62nd minute Thursday for the 11th-ranked Seattle Pacific men, who tied Sonoma State 1-1 in a double-overtime, non-conference soccer contest at Seawolf Soccer Field.
 
The Falcons (0-0-1) drew their season opener for the first time since 2011, moving their all-time record to 33-8-8 in inaugural outings. Senior goalkeeper Cody Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark) preserved the tie with four saves for SPU. He was an All-American last season after surrendering just 0.49 goals per game.
 
"Even on their goal, he made a great play on the initial ball and we just weren't there to help him out and clear it away," ninth-year SPU coach Mark Collings said of his senior shot-stopper. "Cody had a Cody performance today. It certainly helps having him back there."
 
The Seawolves controlled the run of play in the first half and compiled a 6-2 shot advantage in the early going. Half of their shots were directly on goal, forcing Lang to make three early saves. In the 14th minute he lunged to tap a header by Jose Avalos over the crossbar. A shot by SSU's Luis Mendoza 14 minutes later caromed off the right post.
 
Sonoma converted its seventh shot, a tap-in from the goalmouth by Armando Coronel in the 30th minute. After a corner kick into the box was headed toward the goal, Lang reached out a hand to deflect it. The loose ball fell to Coronel's feet for the easy finish near the left post in the 30th minute.
 
The final first-half shot count was 7-3 in favor of the hosts and none of the Falcons attempts required saving.
 
During the remaining 65 minutes, covering the second half and two, 10-minute overtimes, SPU yielded just four shots and nothing on frame.
 
"I'm really happy with how our team responded today. Sonoma came out and was all over us in the first half and we were lucky not to give up more than one," Collings said. "For the first game of the year to come into a very tough place to play and walk out with one-one is a fair result.
 
"Our response in the second half was tremendous. We came out and really moved the ball well. Our defensive pressure was great and we forced them into the goal that we created."
 
The Falcons were the aggressors after halftime, compiling an 11-4 shot count after that juncture. They were rewarded 17 minutes into the period when Franco (Goodyear, Ariz.) intercepted a poor back pass and quickly dribbled into the right side of the box. He delivered a low, 16-yard shot inside the left post to level the score.
 
"Carlos was very good, he provided us a spark when we needed it," said Collings. "We were struggling in the first half, I think we were nervous.
 
"Credit to Sonoma, they took us out of some things that we wanted to do. Carlos came in and provided a calming presence and allowed us to get into a rhythm."
 
That 1-1 score line held the rest of the game. The Falcons outshot Sonoma 5-1 during the extra sessions.
 
The SPU men remain in northern California for a game at Chico State on Saturday at 7 p.m. They return to Seattle for the Interbay Stadium home opener against Colorado Christian on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016
Seawolf Soccer Field/Rohnert Park, Calif.
 
#11 Seattle Pacific 1, at Sonoma State 1 (2ot)
 
                     1   2  OT  OT   -- TOTAL
Seattle Pacific     0   1   0   0   --   1
Sonoma State        1   0   0   0   --   1
 
Scoring – 1, SSU, Armando Coronel, 29:59; 2, SPU, Carlos Franco, 61:34.
 
Shots – SPU 14, SSU 11.
Saves – SPU 4 (Cody Lang), SSU 2 (Mitch North).
Corner Kicks – SPU 4, SSU 5.
Fouls – SPU 13, SSU 20.
Offsides – SPU 3, SSU 4.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 0-0-1
Sonoma State 0-0-1
 
Next SPU Men's Game
Seattle Pacific at Chico State
Saturday, Sept. 3, 7:00 p.m.
University Soccer Stadium / Chico, Calif.