• FINAL STATS

PORTLAND, Ore. – Goalkeeper Riley Travis compiled nine saves and Julia DeVere scored the equalizer with 11 minutes left in regulation Saturday as visiting Seattle Pacific battled to a 1-1 draw, spoiling 16th-ranked Concordia-Portland's chance to share the Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season women's soccer championship.
 
The teams will meet again Thursday at the same Tuominem Yard venue for a 7 p.m. semifinal matchup in the GNAC Tournament.
 
DeVere's goal was only the ninth conceded this season by the Cavaliers in their 16 outings.
 
"We expect another great challenge Thursday night. They are an amazing team and make things very hard on their opponents," said SPU coach Arby Busey.
 
"We have a ton of respect for Concordia, and playing them at their place again won't be an easy task, but we are excited about the opportunity."
 
The Falcons (12-4-2) moved to 8-3-1 in league play and tied for third place with Simon Fraser, both with 25 points. SPU gets the No. 3 seed based on a 3-2 advantage in the away goals tiebreaker.
 
Concordia (12-1-3) is the tournament's second seed after finishing with 29 points, two shy of first-place Western Washington. The top-seeded Vikings will meet No. 4 Simon Fraser at 4 p.m. in Thursday's first game.
 
The two semifinal winners clash in the GNAC championship game on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 3:30 p.m. with the victor earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
Tickets for the conference tournament in Portland are available online now through the end of October by purchasing online at GNACTickets.com.
 
Saturday's first-half shot count was 10-4 in favor of Concordia.
 
The best opportunity in the opening period for the Falcons came in the fifth minute when Claire Neder spun in the box to fire a shot that was grabbed by goalkeeper Rose Hauser at the right post. Neder had another attempt 12 minutes later, but sprayed it wide.
 
The Cavaliers capitalized on their final shot of the first half, at 41:05.
 
Emily Boettcher delivered a wonderful through ball that found her teammate open behind the SPU defense. Kyra Radcliffe reached the pass and slotted a low shot from near the 12-yard spot into the right side of the goal.
 
Travis came off her line to cut down the angle, but was unable to deny Radcliffe's seventh score of the season. That ties her for the Cavaliers' scoring lead.
 
SPU had a chance to quickly level the score, but freshman Makena Rietz sent her attempt wide to the right with 1:25 left before intermission.
 
Travis kept the Falcons close with four first-half saves, including a 20th-minute deflection of a hard shot by Gabrielle Ewing.

 

An offensive flurry by the Falcons resulted in the tying goal, at 79:05. Sophia Chilczuk directed a low, 18-yard shot at the left post that was knocked away by Hauser. The ball stayed in the Cavaliers box and eventually bounced out to DeVere 35 yards from the goal on the right side.
 
DeVere rapidly took a couple dribbles before lofting a 25-yard shot into the upper left corner to even the score, 1-1. That was the fourth goal of the season for the senior defender.
 
That score line held throughout the second half and two, 10-minute overtime sessions.
 
Quinn Williams had two terrific opportunities for Concordia in the first overtime. Her 93rd-minute shot carried wide of the left post.
 
Two minutes later, DeVere fouled Mallory Flatebo three yards outside the box on the left side to grant the Cavaliers a free kick. Williams lined the free shot over the wall, but Travis was able to elevate high enough to tip the ball over the crossbar.
 
The Falcons lone overtime shot came off the foot of Neder with 2:15 left to play. Her speculative, 30-yard attempt traveled just wide of the left post.
 
"The girls were great tonight, playing in a tough place to get results and getting one," Busey said. "We had a few really good chances to win it, and made some great defensive plays to keep the tie."
 
Concordia won this season's first encounter, a 1-0 decision on Oct. 11 in Seattle.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018
Tuominem Yard / Portland, Ore.
 
Seattle Pacific 1, at #16 Concordia-Portland 1 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, CU, Kyra Radcliffe (Emily Boettcher), 41:05; 2, SPU, Julia DeVere (unassisted), 78:50.
 
                          1   2  OT  OT  -- Total
Seattle Pacific           0   1   0   0  --   1
Concordia-Portland        1   0   0   0  --   1
 
Shots – SPU 10, CU 19.
Shots on Goal – SPU 3, CU 10.
Saves – SPU 9 (Riley Travis), CU 2 (Rose Hauser).
Corner kicks – SPU 2, CU 7.
Fouls – SPU 15, CU 12.
Offsides – SPU 1, CU 2.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 12-4-2, 8-3-1 GNAC
Concordia 12-1-3, 9-1-2 GNAC
 
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
GNAC Tournament
Seattle Pacific at Concordia-Portland
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:00 p.m. PDT
Tuominem Yard / Portland, Ore.