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SEATTLE – Saturday night's Seattle Pacific men's soccer home game was suspended late in the first half and eventually cancelled when lightning in the vicinity of Interbay Stadium forced the stoppage of play.
 
The matchup with non-conference opponent Chico State was officially declared a no-contest at 9:31 p.m. Pacific Time. NCAA soccer rules stipulate that a game can't be resumed unless it is within three hours of the start time.
 
The teams are allowed to re-schedule if they can find a mutually available date later in the season, at which time an entirely new, 90-minute game would be played.
 
The Falcons led 1-0 when the severe weather delay began at 7:39 p.m.
 
 

Saturday's game will not be resumed and all statistics will be voided, which is particularly troubling news for sophomore Ed Weise, who accounted for the lone goal.
 
A central defender, Weise moved forward for a Falcons' set piece. Titus Grant served a corner kick from the right side to the top of the 6-yard box where Weise redirected it with a firm header into the lower left corner at 7:26.
 
The game was halted after 34-minutes, 44-seconds of play when lightning was visible, accompanied by thunder. Spectators were instructed to leave the metal-bleacher stands and seek shelter while the players and coaches retreated to their respective locker rooms.
 
The Falcons last had a game end prematurely on Oct. 26, 2014 when a massive power outage throughout the Seattle area knocked out the lights at Interbay Stadium in the 82nd minute. SPU led 1-0 against U-Mary and was declared the winner as the game, which never resumed due to the three-hour rule, had surpassed the 70-minute mark required for an official contest.
 
The Seattle Pacific men (0-0-1) opened their 2019 campaign on Thursday with a 1-1 tie against Sonoma State.
 
The Falcons embark on their first road trip with a two-game swing through the Midwest. They visit Colorado Mines on Sept. 13 and West Texas A&M on Sept. 16.
 
SPU's next home game is Sept. 26 versus Point Loma. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.