SEATTLE – Sophomore Tyler Speer scored in each half Saturday, collecting the first two goals of his collegiate career to lift Seattle Pacific to its initial men's soccer win of the season, 3-1 over Pacific Lutheran at Interbay Stadium.
 
Three days after opening the season with Wednesday's 2-1 home loss to Saint Martin's, the Falcons started an entirely different starting 11. The youthful lineup consisted of six first-year Falcons, including four freshmen and two transfers.
 
"We got better today after learning some tough lessons the other night," said SPU coach Mark Collings. "I had no problem putting those guys in the starting lineup today. Our confidence in them was rewarded. They scored three great goals and they put in a really solid effort.
 
"At the same time, they are developing. There were a lot of young guys out there today and overall, they really grew into the game, which is what you want to see. It's a process and our ideal is that, by the time we get to the fall we've figured a lot of this out."
 
Terrific Titus
Just three players had previously opened a game in an SPU uniform, including senior forward Titus Grant whose 32 career starts doubled the total of the other 10 players combined.
 
Grant's veteran presence showed as he played a role in two goals with an assist on Speer's opening tally and a penalty kick nine minutes into the second half.
 
On the first goal, Grant dribbled down the left flank before delivering a low cross across the box. Speer flicked a first-timer with his left foot from the top of the 6-yard box into the right side of the PLU goal at 22:18.

TYLER SPEER 1ST GOAL

"Titus is a handful. When he can get going, that just opens up so much more for us," Collings said. "Having him in the lineup definitely helped. He's so confident and when things are going for him it seems we go as well.
 
"We're trying to become more multi-dimensional so that there can't be as much focus on him. We're getting there, but certainly when he can show up and do his thing it helps us quite a bit."
 
Pacific Lutheran (8-3-0) got a 49th-minute goal from Dane Helle to briefly leveled the score, 1-1, before the Falcons re-claimed the lead five minutes later.
 
Two Shots, Two Goals
A midfielder from Grand Junction, Colorado, Speer made an impression in his first start as a collegian. He sent both of his shots into the back of the net, recording goals in the 23rd and 55th minutes. His second score, off a pass from Owen Gortner, came just 29 seconds after Grant converted the penalty kick.
 
"Boy, he's a guy that you wouldn't really expect to get goals. But Tyler's such a smart player, he is disciplined and does a lot of what we ask for in that role," Collings described. "In that role we expect goals to come from there, so it was great to see him rewarded for all the effort he put in today.
 
"Tyler was good all over the field. Yeah, he got goals, but he was good in the build out and defensively as well."
 
Back-to-Back Goals
A foray by Falcons freshman Aidan Zadrozny into the left side of the box set up the second goal as he was fouled by the Lutes Ryan Griffith. Grant calmly stepped to the 12-yard spot and directed a low strike into the left side of the goal at 53:40.
 
Speer capped the scoring less than a minute later, at 54:09. Judah Johnston initiated the play, slipping a pass into the side of the box. Gortner raced to the ball near the end line and averted a defender before sliding a pass into the 6-yard box. Speer raced to the ball and first-timed a five-yard shot inside the left post to secure the win.

TYLER SPEER 2ND GOAL

 SPU (1-1-0) got six saves from sophomore goalkeeper Cam Welty in his first start between the posts. A seventh save, credited to the team, came with Welty off his line. Freshman defender Joey Van Horn cleared Elijah Thompson's shot away from the goalmouth in the 35th minute.
 
Lucas Hempen was credited with four saves for the Lutes, who were outshot by a slim 17-16 margin.
 
Showing Improvement
Collings was pleased with his team's development since Wednesday's season-opener, but still sees areas to improve.
 
"We were better in the final third, obviously. We talked about that the last couple days, just being more aggressive in the final third and not bailing your opponent out with service or negative passes when we get isolated, but going after players. We did a good job with that today.
 
"As good as we were, there were some holes that were exposed as well. We need to keep moving forward, but our transition defensively needs to improve quite a bit. We give up too many easy opportunities, we're not making the opposition have to work for them."
 
The Seattle Pacific men remain home to host Puget Sound on April 10 for a 4:00 p.m. matchup at Interbay Stadium. Fans are not allowed to attend Falcons home games, but they can be viewed live online at --  https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports

NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 3, Pacific Lutheran 1
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Tyler Speer (Titus Grant), 22:18; 2, PLU, Dane Helle (Robby Guyer), 48:41; 3, SPU, Grant (PK), 53:40; 4, SPU, Speer (Owen Gortner), 54:09.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Pacific Lutheran       0   1  --    1
Seattle Pacific        1   2  --    3
 
Shots – PLU 16, SPU 17.
Shots on Goal – PLU 8, SPU 7.
Saves – PLU 4 (Lucan Hempen), SPU 7 (Cam Welty 6, Team 1).
Corner Kicks – PLU 3, SPU 3.
Fouls – PLU 6, SPU 7.
Offsides – PLU 1, SPU 3.
 
Records
Pacific Lutheran 8-3-0
Seattle Pacific 1-1-0
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game
Puget Sound at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, April 10, 4:00 p.m. PDT
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.