• FINAL STATS (pdf)   |   • PHOTO GALLERY

SEATTLE – Samm Swanson managed to get a header on the ball in a congested box Saturday, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 Sonoma State women's soccer win over Seattle Pacific at Interbay Stadium.
 
The clash between NCAA Division II Tournament qualifiers from a year ago was evenly played. Each team compiled exactly 12 shots and five corner kicks. But the visiting Seawolves were the side fortunate to find the back of the net.
 
"It was a really good, competitive game between two good teams that are seasoned and storied in terms of NCAA Tournament experience," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "It's a great game for our team moving forward, because having these experiences under our belt will pay dividends down the road. We've seen some of the best teams out there and when we play great teams in the future, these experiences that we've been getting will help us out."
 
Sonoma (2-2-0) converted a corner kick sequence for the decisive tally at 33:48.
 
Julia Pritchard stepped to the right corner and rolled a pass to Krissy Keller at the top corner of the box. Keller served a cross into traffic and Swanson was able to rise among several players and head the ball, which slipped inside the left post.
 
The Falcons (1-3-0) suffered their third one-goal setback of the young season and were shut out for the second time. They were the beneficiaries of a 1-0 result on Thursday with a win over Biola in the home opener.
 
SPU nearly got on the scoreboard just two minutes into the contest.
 
Junior forward Sophia Chilczuk caught up with a Megan Moore through pass at the top of the box and angled toward the left post with Sonoma goalkeeper Ashley Morton charging. Chilczuk's low shot, toward the right side of the goal, was deflected by a sprawling Morton.
 
"It was good little sequence to free her up. Their goalkeeper came out and did a really good job of coming up and smothering that thing," Busey said. "It's one of those plays that kind of created a little bit of momentum for them moving forward and would have been nice for us to get. Unfortunately, we didn't capitalize on that opportunity today."
 
The Seawolves keeper was credited with one additional save in the second half, denying a 16-yard attempt off the foot of Claire Neder in the 87th minute. That was the Falcons' final chance, and the last shot of the game for either team.

 

Sophomore Riley Travis stopped four shots for the Falcons with some spectacular saves.
 
"Riley was great in those later stages when we started to take a little risk and open ourselves up a bit more to try to see if we could chase our way back into that game," Busey described.
 
"We left ourselves more vulnerable at the back and were able to do that confidently because of the players that we have on the backline in front of her and knowing she's capable of making some big-time saves like she did today. Riley was fantastic in those moments, rising up and keeping the ball out of the net."
 
Travis registered three saves during the second half.
 
Sonoma's Alyssa Hornback delivered a curling shot from the right side of the box toward the left post that Travis dove horizontally to parry away from danger in the 60th minute.
 
Less than five minutes later, the Falcons goalkeeper sprinted 12 yards off her line to smother a point-blank attempt from Drew Swanson.
 
With 5:08 left on the clock, the Seawolves' Alexis Espitia broke free into the box and her hard, low shot was blocked with a foot save by Travis.
 
Both teams made liberal use of substitutions as 21 Falcons saw action and Sonoma played 20. Sophomore defender Madison Ibale made her 2019 debut for SPU after being sidelined all last season due to injury.
 
The Seattle Pacific women embark on a four-game road trip over the next two weeks, beginning Thursday in San Diego, Calif. at Point Loma. Kick-off is 4:30 p.m. at PLNU Soccer Field where the Falcons face Cal Poly Pomona next Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
"The road doesn't get easier. We travel next week and play an NCAA Tournament team again, on the road," Busey said. "This group is going to be battled tested when we're done with this. It doesn't taste very good or feel very good right now, but the lessons that we're learning will pay off in the long run.
 
"I really like this team, how hard they play and the way that they play. It's really enjoyable to work with them and I really believe we're going to be duly rewarded for the work that we're putting in now."
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
Sonoma State 1, at Seattle Pacific 0
 
Scoring – 1, SSU, Samm Swanson (Krissy Keller, Julia Pritchard), 33:48.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Sonoma State           1   0  --    1
Seattle Pacific        0   0  --    0
 
Shots – SSU 12, SPU 12.
Saves – SSU 2 (Ashley Morton), SPU 4 (Riley Travis).
Corner Kicks – SSU 5, SPU 5.
Fouls – SSU 14, SPU 9.
Offsides – SSU 0, SPU 3.
 
Records
Sonoma State 2-2-0
Seattle Pacific 1-3-0
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
Seattle Pacific at Point Loma
Thursday, Sept. 19, 4:30 p.m. PDT
PLNU Soccer Field / San Diego, Calif.