• FINAL STATS (pdf)

GOLDEN, Colo. – Lucas King scored on a deflected shot in the 56th minute Friday, spoiling a brilliant effort by Seattle Pacific goalkeeper Lars Helleren and securing a 1-0 win for the Colorado School of Mines in a non-conference men's contest at Stermole Soccer Stadium.
 
Helleren collected nine saves against the Orediggers (2-1-0), who had a 17-9 shot advantage. He appeared to have the goal covered on the only ball that got past him, diving to his left. But the ball glanced off one of Helleren's teammates and veered the opposite direction.
 
Ben Overholt set up the goal for Mines, breaking down the right flank before sending a square pass across the top edge of the 18-yard box. King raced to the ball and quickly directed a one-touch shot toward the right post that bounded into the left side of the goal at 55:55 after the ricochet.
 
The Falcons (0-1-1) remain winless on the season. They tied Sonoma State 1-1 in the Sept. 5 season opener and led Chico State 1-0 late in the first half on Sept. 7 before that night game was stopped and eventually cancelled due to persistent lightning in Seattle.
 
Helleren, a sophomore from King's High School just north of Seattle, made 10 stops in SPU's only other official game. He is averaging 9.5 saves per outing and owns a 0.90 goals against average.
 
Three of his saves stand out from Friday's performance.
 
With 2:06 left in a scoreless first half Helleren dropped to the ground to smother an attempt by Connor Loveren.
 
The SPU 'keeper dove to his right to deny a quality chance by Jacob Eanes in the 79th minute. Three minutes later the Orediggers' Overholt was at the top of the 6-yard box and quickly redirected a cross that Helleren stretched out to parry away from danger.
 
"Lars is a really good shot-stopper. He gives our guys a lot of confidence back there because he is so sure-handed and does a good job of cutting angles down," said SPU coach Mark Collings. "He made some really good saves.
 
"We were a bit unfortunate on the goal. He actually had it covered, but the weird bounce off the deflection was what really put the ball in the goal."

 

Junior forward Titus Grant tried nearly half of the Falcons' nine shots, with four attempts in the return to his home state. He hails from Colorado Springs.
 
The Falcons made Drew Johnson work for his second shutout. They sent six shots directly on target, each requiring saves by the CSM goalkeeper.
 
SPU nearly found an equalizer with 1:34 left to play. A low cross came in from the left wing and Mario Vukic raced through the box for a sliding shot near the left post. A defender managed to redirect the attempt over the endline.
 
That created the first of back-to-back corner kicks, but the Falcons were unable to capitalize on those set pieces.
 
"It was a really good game. They're very good, they're disciplined and they stick to their game plan really well," Collings described. " They were relentless defensively. There were quite a few times we thought we had them tonight, but their backs were able to get to some balls that we thought we were in on.
 
"We just weren't quite sharp enough offensively, as well. I certainly thought we played well enough to win tonight, so it's tough."
 
The challenging Midwest road trip continues for the Seattle Pacific men, who visit Canyon, Texas for a Monday night encounter with the nation's sixth-ranked team. They play West Texas A&M at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
 
"It will be a really, really tough game," Collings said. "Part of our expectation and the standard we have here is, if we're going to win championships we have to be able to play with teams like this and beat them.
 
"We have to find a way to be a little sharper on Monday. Goals changes games, and we have to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net."
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Friday, September 13, 2019
Stermole Soccer Stadium / Golden, Colo.
 
at Colorado Mines 1, Seattle Pacific 0
 
Scoring – 1, CSM, Lucas King (Ben Overholt), 55:55.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific        0   0  --    0
Colorado Mines         0   1  --    1
 
Shots – SPU 9, CSM 17.
Saves –SPU 9 (Lars Helleren), CSM 6 (Drew Johnson).
Corner Kicks – SPU 3, CSM 7.
Fouls – SPU 7, CSM 10.
Offsides – SPU 1, CSM 4.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 0-1-1
Colorado Mines 2-1-0
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game
Seattle Pacific at (#6) West Texas A&M
Monday, Sept. 16, 5:00 p.m. PDT
The Pitch / Canyon, Texas