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SEATTLE – Seattle Pacific's Mario Vukic scored early in the second half Thursday, but Sonoma State got a late equalizer to forge a 1-1 tie in the season-opening game for both non-conference combatants at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (0-0-1) were doubled in the shot count, 22-11, after halftime. Sophomore goalkeeper Lars Helleren preserved the draw by matching his single-game high of 10 saves. He registered seven stops after the first half.
 
Vukic started the scoring 54 seconds after halftime. Alden Massey went on a long, dribbling run from the left flank into the center of the field. He slid a through pass to Vukic, who chipped a low shot over the lunging Sonoma goalkeeper from 20 yards out.
 
"We actually talked at halftime about Alden, how he was finding good pockets of space," said Mark Collings, who begins his 12th year at SPU's head coach. "Alden found the ball, was able to cut inside and slipped a tremendous ball into Mario, who had a really classy finish. Really good goal."
 
Unfortunately for the hosts, that one-goal margin would stand for only 42 minutes, but not the 44 they needed.
 
"We scored a goal early in the second half, which is great," Collings explained. "But with our young group that is learning how to win, we got away from what was allowing us to be successful in the first half. You start playing not to lose instead of to win. We grinded, but unfortunately they got a goal with a couple minutes to go."
 
The visitors increased the pressure following SPU's goal and eventually Eduardo Rodriguez cashed in on an 89th-minute corner kick to level the score, 1-1.
 
Sebastian Santos created the set-piece opportunity, delivering a high blast that Helleren managed to tip off the crossbar and out of play.
 
Kyle Owings served the ensuing corner kick just outside the top of the box. Rodriguez finished the play with 1:55 left in regulation on a left-footed volley high into the Falcons goal.

 

It took a goal of that quality to finally breach Helleren's goal.
 
"Lars came up huge tonight," said Collings of his goalkeeper, who equaled the career-best 10 saves he recorded at Western Washington on Oct. 27, 2018.
 
"His save right before the goal was unbelievable. Lars was big-time."
 
Action during the two, 10-minute overtime sessions was intense. The Seawolves unleashed seven shots in the first extra period and four in the second.
 
The best opportunity in overtime came 1:55 into the second added period. Vukic broke into the box, but his 14-yard liner was stopped by Sonoma goalkeeper Derik Engebretsen.
 
Despite yielding no goals, each team had wonderful chances in the opening 45 minutes and they each managed five shots.
 
The Falcons' finest attempt came in the fifth minute. Massey made a dribbling run toward the top of the box before sending a low drive that forced Engebretsen to make a dive to his left to knock the ball past the post.
 
In the 42nd minute, Sonoma's Sean Rohane delivered a hard shot from inside the box. Helleren was well positioned and quickly moved to his right to collect the dangerous attempt.
 
"No harm done at this point, I guess," Collings said of the draw. "Sonoma is a really good team that's going to win a lot of soccer games and we're a really good team that will hopefully win a lot of games as well. So, we look forward to playing Chico on Saturday."
 
The SPU men stay at home to host Chico State for a 7 p.m. clash at Interbay Stadium. That marks the 11th consecutive season those non-conference foes will have faced each other.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 1, Sonoma State 1 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Mario Vukic (Alden Massey), 45:54; 2, SSU, Eduardo Rodriguez (Kyle Owings), 88:05.
 
                       1   2  OT  OT  --  TOTAL
Sonoma State           0   1   0   0  --    1
Seattle Pacific        0   1   0   0  --    1
 
Shots – SSU 27, SPU 16.
Saves – SSU 7 (DerikEngebretsen), SPU 10 (Lars Helleren).
Corner Kicks – SSU 9, SPU 8.
Fouls – SSU 15, SPU 16.
Offsides – SSU 2, SPU 3.
 
Records
Sonoma State 0-0-1
Seattle Pacific 0-0-1
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game
Chico State at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Sept. 7, 7:00 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.