NAMPA, Idaho – Sebastian Coltrau accounted for the only scoring Saturday with a goal late in the first half for Northwest Nazarene, which upset 22nd-ranked Seattle Pacific 1-0 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's contest that concluded the regular season for both teams at NNU Soccer Field.
 
The visiting Falcons (12-3-2) suffered their second conference loss and their league ledger moved to 6-2-2. They clinched the outright GNAC championship, but not without some help from their neighbors to the north.
 
SPU completes the conference campaign with 20 points to finish atop the standings, two points ahead of runner-up Simon Fraser (18). The Canadian side helped the Falcons by defeating Western Washington 2-1 in overtime late Saturday. A Western win would have given them a share of the league title.
 
With the conference championship comes a trophy along with the GNAC's automatic NCAA Division II Tournament berth. The playoffs begin on Thursday, Nov. 18.
 
The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time with a selection show available for online viewing at:  www.ncaa.com. SPU will receive its 36th invitation and make its first postseason appearance since 2015.
 
Cotrau tallied the decisive goal exactly 37 minutes into Saturday's game and moved into a tie for the team lead with his fifth score. After a Falcons foul at the right sideline, NNU was awarded a free kick 40 yards from the goal. The ball was served to the 6-yard box where it bobbled around, causing a goalmouth scramble.
 
From the ground Cotrau managed to flick the ball past goalkeeper Lars Helleren and across the goal line.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE GOAL

The halftime shot count was even at 4-4 and each team put two attempts on frame.
 
Helleren made one save before giving way to reserve goalkeeper Cam Welty at intermission.
 
The Falcons increased their offensive intensity in the second half, producing a 7-2 shot advantage, but not a goal.
 
SPU delivered two shots directly on goal. The first, by Demian Alvarez in the 67th minute, was saved by Alex Nadermann. The NNU goalkeeper also dispatched a shot by Alex Mejia in the 79th minute.
 
The GNAC's leading scorer with 14 goals to his credit, Mejia was unable to find the back of the net despite a game-high three shots. His last-gasp attempt, with eight seconds to play, sailed high.
 
With possession and nearing the 90th minute, SPU "pulled the keeper" as reserve Cam Welty moved forward into the offensive half to provide an extra attacker.
 
The Nighthawks nearly capitalized on that strategy. With 27 second remaining Lukas Juodkunaitis launched a 60-yard shot that Welty easily back-tracked to catch 15 yards from his goal.
 
UP NEXT
The Falcons will discover their NCAA playoff destiny on Monday when the 48-team field will be announced. The men's soccer selection show airs at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time online at www.ncaa.com
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, November 13, 2021
NNU Soccer Field / Nampa, Idaho
 
at Northwest Nazarene 1, (#22) Seattle Pacific 0
 
Scoring – 1, NNU, Sebastian Cotrau (unassisted), 37:00.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific        0   0  --    0
Northwest Nazarene     1   0  --    1
 
Shots – SPU 11, NNU 6.
Shots on Goal – SPU 4, NNU 4.
Saves – SPU 3 (Lars Helleren 1, Cam Welty 2), NNU 4 (Alex Nadermann).
Corner Kicks – SPU 9, NNU 3.
Fouls – SPU 10, NNU 16.
Offsides – SPU 3, NNU 2.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 12-3-2,  6-2-2 GNAC
Northwest Nazarene 8-8-0,  5-5-0 GNAC
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game
NCAA Division II Tournament
Opponent TBA
Thursday, November 18, site TBA