Box Score   |   Final Stats   |   VIDEO: Gabriel  Weber

SEATTLE – Jeremiah Egujie scored both goals for Chico State and the second, in the 88th minute, was the game winner Thursday that sparked a 2-1 win over Seattle Pacific in the men's soccer season opener at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (0-1) fell for just the second time in their last 13 season-opening contests. They claimed an early lead when sophomore Gabriel Weber (Skyview HS) redirected a Gabe Kellum header into the goal from close range at 15:55. Jess Cayetano initiated the action with a cross into the box from the right flank.
 
"Great goal," exclaimed Mark Collings, who is starting his 10th season as the Falcons head coach. "We've talked a lot about getting service from wide areas. We did that and then a good header. We've talked to guys about when they get in the box, just staying alive. Gabe Weber did that and was able to knock it in.
 
"We had a couple other chances too that just unfortunately didn't bounce our way."


 
Chico (1-0) answered the Falcons goal barely five minutes later on a penalty kick by Egujie that leveled the score 21:07 into the action. The next 66 minutes were scoreless.
 
The decisive strike came with 2-minutes, 13-seconds left on the clock. Dylan Wakefield found Egujie in the goalmouth for a tap-in at the right post.
 
"I was actually really pleased with our performance, as pleased as you can be losing a game," Collings said. "We definitely played well enough to win today. Chico's good and probably a bit more seasoned and more prepared than we were just having taken an international trip."
 
SPU owned an 18-11 advantage in the shots category, including a 13-8 margin after halftime. The hosts had several dangerous chances late in the game, but many were blocked in the congested box or saved by Damion Lewis.
 
The Wildcats goalkeeper stopped five shots, four of them during the second half.

 

His final two stops were the best. Lewis dove to his left in the 69th minute, sweeping a header by SPU's Trevor Lee (Puyallup HS) over the goal line. In the 82nd minute Samuel Agyei (Cascade HS) drove a low shot that Lewis kicked just wide of the left post with his right foot.
 
"It was an even game and we had a couple great chances," said Collings. "Their goalkeeper really was the difference in the game. He made two saves that were really top-level.
 
"All the credit to them, they finished their chances. We got caught a little bit on the weak side on the first goal, the penalty. Then on the second goal we got caught in transition."
 
Junior Kary Whitney was credited with one save in his first career start as the Falcons goalkeeper.
 
The SPU men remain at home to host Sonoma State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.
 
"Chico's a really quality team, but we played toe-to-toe with them," Collings concluded.
 
"Saturday we play Sonoma, which always has a very good team. So we've just got to focus on getting better at what we do. Obviously they'll pose some different challenges than Chico did tonight. Everybody's style is a little different, but if we can get better at what we do then I like our chances."
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
Chico State 2, Seattle Pacific 1
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Gabriel Weber (Gabe Kellum, Jess Cayetano), 15;55; 2, Chico, Jeremiah Egujie (pk), 21:07; 3, Chico, Egujie (Dylan Wakefield), 87:47.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Chico State            1   1  --    2
Seattle Pacific        1   0  --    1
 
Shots – Chico 11, SPU 18.
Saves – Chico 5 (Damion Lewis), SPU 1 (Kary Whitney).
Corner Kicks – Chico 2, SPU 6.
Fouls – Chico 15, SPU 12.
Offsides – Chico 3, SPU 4.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 0-1-0
Chico State 1-0-0
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game
Sonoma State at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Sept. 2, 7:00 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.