• FINAL STATS (html)

SAN FRANCISCO – Sophia Chilczuk tallied a goal in each half for the Seattle Pacific women, who scored on over half of their shots Saturday en route to a 4-1 non-conference soccer victory over San Francisco State at Cox Stadium.
 
The Falcons (3-0-1) remained undefeated after successfully converting four of their seven shot attempts.
 
"We didn't have a ton of shots, but we created some really good opportunities and capitalized on those," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "The ones that we did create we were pretty lethal on.
 
"That's a good thing because that's how it's going to be a lot of times after a tough game on Thursday. To rebound and be as efficient as we were in the attacking third is a good sign for us moving forward."
 
Two minutes into the game SPU's Makayla Sonstelie attempted the first shot by either team, a header that sailed high. She honed in on the target less than a minute later, scoring at 2:51.
 
Sonstelie deposited a loose ball from the goalmouth into the Gators goal with her first score of the season. That was the third career strike for the senior midfielder.
 
The Falcons found the goal with their next shot, at 20:51. Sydnee Smith's corner kick from the left side was headed in by Chilczuk.
 
SFSU (1-2-0) cut the margin in half after Tami Kwong's goal in the 26th minute Saturday.
 
That was the first goal surrendered by the SPU defense, snapping a season-opening streak of 315 scoreless minutes. They battled Chico State to a scoreless draw for 110 minutes Thursday, including two overtimes.
 
"Our defenders did a ton of work the other night so we started off a little fatigued, a little rusty today. San Francisco State caught us where we were a little bit too open at the back in transition and punished us for it," Busey described. "Our response was fantastic the next 65 minutes. They buttoned up the shop and kept it closed, kept them to one goal and they were really good.
 
"They take a lot of pride in keeping our opponents off the scoreboard, and when they got breached they had a moment where they got together and made the decision that wasn't going to happen again."

 

At the half, Seattle Pacific led 2-1 on the scoreboard, but trailed 8-3 on the scoresheet in the shots category.
 
Megan Moore netted the visitors third score, at 61:17, finishing to the far post off a pass from Sierra Smith that traveled across the face of the goal.
 
Chilczuk capped the scoring with just over seven minutes to play with an unassisted tally. The Falcons forward, honored as the 2017 GNAC Freshman of the Year, broke behind the defense and dribbled at the goal before slipping a shot past the onrushing goalkeeper.
 
The Falcons were without senior forward Kasey Reeve, whose two goals led the team entering Saturday's game. Reeve was red-carded Thursday and forced to sit out against the Gators. In her absence, Chilczuk thrived, taking over the scoring leadership with her second and third goals of the season.
 
"With Kasey gone I think Sophia felt a little extra responsibility today to get some goals and she came through two times for us," said Busey. "Two big goals. The goal on the corner was a header, using her height to her advantage, and the second one was a bit of a breakaway where she was able to use her speed to get in behind and be composed in the finish."
 
Senior Abby Smith was credited with five saves for SPU, which was outshot 12-7 for the game. Gators goalkeeper Nicki Rucki did not stop any shots.
 
The Falcons return home to host Cal State San Bernardino at Interbay Stadium on Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. They close out the non-conference portion of the schedule in southern California next Saturday (Sept. 15) at Biola.
 
THROW INS
• There was a power outage on the San Francisco State campus so the game was played without an operating scoreboard and there were no public address announcements.
• Seattle Pacific is undefeated in its first four games for the first time since the 2015 squad opened with four wins.
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Cox Stadium / San Francisco, Calif.
 
Seattle Pacific 4, at San Francisco State 1
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Makayla Sonstelie (unassisted), 2:51; 2, SPU, Sophia Chilczuk (Sydnee Smith), 20:51; 3, SFSU, Tami Kwong (Ana Williams), 25:39; 4, SPU, Megan Moore (Sierra Smith), 61:17; 4, SPU, Chilczuk (unassisted), 82:52.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific        2   2  --    4
Chico State            1   0  --    1
 
Shots – SPU 7, SFSU 12
Shots on Goal – SPU 4, SFSU 6
Saves – SPU 5 (Abby Smith), SFSU 0 (Nicki Rucki)
Corner Kicks – SPU 6, SFSU 5
Fouls – SPU 9, SFSU 8
Offsides – SPU 0, SFSU 1
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 3-0-1
San Francisco State 1-2-0
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
Cal State San Bernardino at Seattle Pacific
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 1:00 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.