Box Score   |   Final Stats   |   VIDEO: Kasey  Reeve

SEATTLE – The Falcons faced a two-goal deficit. But you wouldn't have known it looking into their faces at halftime.
 
Kasey Reeve scored twice in the second half Thursday, including the 88th-minute game winner that capped Seattle Pacific's rally from two goals down to defeat Chico State 3-2 in first game of the women's soccer season at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (1-0) continued their success in openers as they have started with a loss just once in the last 15 years, compiling a 13-1-1 record during that span.
 
The visitors jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first half, getting goals in the 12th and 27th minutes. The first came off the foot of Korie Bozart, who lofted a shot from outside the left corner of the box that nestled into the upper right of the goal.
 
Fifteen minutes later Erin Woods netted a header at the right post off a cross from Kylie Martinez to produce a 2-0 lead that Chico would own at intermisison.
 
"Just looking around that locker room and looking in their eyes, you could see that they could get back into the game," third-year coach Arby Busey described. "We ended the half with a little bit of momentum and kind of clawed back in, but the score was still what it was and we had a tall mountain to climb.
 
"It's a testament to the character of the girls we have on the team, they just don't have "quit" in their vocabulary. I couldn't be prouder of them and the effort that they put forth, especially in the second half."


 
The Falcons rapidly overcame the 2-0 disadvantage with early second-half goals 2-minutes, 23-seconds apart. Sophomore defender Megan Nielsen (Seattle Christian HS) put SPU on the board with an arching attempt from 35 yards out that dipped under the crossbar at 50:41.
 
At 53:04 Reeve netted the equalizer with a header at the right side of the goalmouth off a long cross from Maddy Booster. The teams were scoreless for the next 34 minutes and seemed destined to play overtime.
 
Reeve eliminated the need for an extra session, ending the game in regulation.
 
She notched the decisive score at 87:32 after a remarkable hustle play from freshman Clair Neder (Mead HS). The first-year Falcon raced to reach a ball before it crossed the endline to the right of the Wildcats goalmouth. She delivered a back pass to Reeve, who finished from the center of the box into the left side of the goal.
 
The junior forward doubled her career total as she entered the game with two goals, both of them scored last season.
 
"Kasey was massive for us," Busey exclaimed. "During her time here when she's been healthy, she scores goals. The only thing that's slowed her down is an injury."

Senior Molly Stinson kept the Wildcats at bay while waiting for the offense to get on track. She registered five of her nine saves during the first half. Several the SPU keeper's stops were of the remarkable variety, perhaps none better than her denial of Woods in the 72nd minute. Stinson reacted quickly to a point-blank attempt from the Chico midfielder, reaching high to snag the ball.
 
"Molly had two or three quality saves for sure in terms of bailing us out and keeping us within shouting distance so that we could do what we did," said Busey. "Molly is a rock for us back there.
 
"In a situation like we were in, down two goals and needing to take a more aggressive posture and push bodies higher up the field, we still have the security that she provides back there so we can take a bit more risk."

 

Stinson (Woodinville HS) established a new school record with 106 saves in 2016. She now has 221 career stops, just 50 shy of the SPU career standard of 271 established by Jennifer Hull from 2001-04.
 
Each team had a goal disallowed Thursday. Reeve headed a corner kick into the back of the net in the 34th minute, but the Falcons were whistled for a foul on the play. In the 82nd minute the Wildcats had a shot trickle past the goal line, but they were judged to be offside.
 
The Falcons were victorious despite being outshot 20-9. Goalkeeper Clair Abele was credited with one save for Chico.
 
The SPU women now embark on a four-game road trip, including their next two games in Colorado. They visit Metro State on Sept. 7 and UC Colorado Springs on Sept. 9 before closing out their non-conference slate at Cal Poly Pomona on Sept. 12.
 
"You want to get off to a good start and you want to protect your home turf. We did a good job of that today and now we are on the road for four games," said Busey. "It will get even more challenging and I like where we're at. The mentality of the girls should be great. We gained a lot of confidence today."
 
The Falcons start Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Simon Fraser on Sept. 16. Their next home game is Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m. against Saint Martin's.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 3, Chico State 2
 
Scoring – 1, Chico, Korie Bozart, 11:11; 2, Chico, Erin Woods (Kylie Martinez), 26:01; 3, SPU, Megan Nielsen, 50:41; 4, SPU, Kasey Reeve (Maddy Booster), 53:04; 5, Reeve (Claire Neder), 87:32.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Chico State            2   0  --    2
Seattle Pacific        0   3  --    3
 
Shots – Chico 20, SPU 9.
Saves – Chico 1 (Claire Abele), SPU 9 (Molly Stinson).
Corner Kicks – Chico 2, SPU 3.
Fouls – Chico 7, SPU 8.
Offsides – Chico 3, SPU 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 1-0-0
Chico State 0-1-0
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
Seattle Pacific at Metro State
Thursday, Sept. 7, 2:00 p.m. PDT
Regency Athletic Complex/Denver, Colo.