SEATTLE – Sam Malloch netted a golden goal 33 seconds in overtime on a play initiated by Alex Mejia, who tallied Saturday's opening score, propelling Seattle Pacific to a 3-2 win over Puget Sound in a men's soccer game at Interbay Stadium.
 
The senior classmates started and played the entire first half, leaving the Falcons with a 1-0 advantage. They sat in the second half in favor of an entirely new 11-man lineup that seemed on the verge of playing out a victory before UPS equalized with four minutes left in regulation.
 
"For sure this experience is valuable for us," said SPU coach Mark Collings. "We don't view it as a first or second group. So much of soccer is the unspoken communication between players, knowing what each other are going to do. We're just trying to get reps for players, both as individuals but also as a group.
 
"Quite honestly we were debating whether to put today's starters back in or not after them having sit for 60 minutes. It's not super warm out, so tough for them to get back into the speed of the game. Obviously, they rewarded our decision."
 
Those determined SPU starters returned for sudden-death overtime that would have consisted of two 10-minutes sessions if neither team managed to score. The Falcons needed just over half-a-minute to end the proceedings.
 
Mejia rapidly retrieved the ball on the sideline for a quick throw-in that found Alden Massey streaking into the left side of the box. Massey raced to reach the ball and first-timed a low pass across the box that found Malloch alone near the far post. Malloch easily tucked the ball into the right side of the goal for the game-winner at 90:33.
 
SAM MALLOCH GOLDEN GOAL

That was the second goal of the season for the Falcons forward, whose first strike came on a well-placed free kick in the March 24 season opener.
 
"That's probably the easiest goal he'll score in his life, a lot easier than the free kick," Collings said. "It was a good reward for the effort that we put in today. We were pretty dominant at times, especially through the first half. In the second half we conceded a couple goals on set pieces.
 
"All-in-all our reaction to it, going to overtime and getting a win, is important and part of the process. We're trying to develop a certain mentality, so this was definitely a great way to end for us."
 
SPU (2-1-0) picked up its second straight win. The game required overtime despite the hosts posting a commanding 20-5 margin in the shot count. Loggers goalkeeper Andrew Matheny made saves to keep five of those shots out of his goal while his Falcons counterparts Lars Helleren and Matthew Samson each denied one attempt on target.
 
Mejia notched the only goal of the first half, finishing a fine cross from Titus Grant at 13:38. Massey was credited with an assist for initiating that goal, giving him two for the game.
 
"This was Alex's best performance here," said Collings, who believes Mejia's move from defender to forward is paying off. "He was really active for us in our build-out, made a lot of good runs into the box and scored a great goal. Alex was probably unfortunate not to get another one.
 
"It's really starting to come together for him. It's been a transition and his understanding of his role is becoming more clear. His teammates have figured out how to utilize Alex and his strengths as a player."

ALEX MEJIA INTERVIEW

The Loggers deposited both of their goals on set pieces, the first leveling the score 1-1 at 66:06. Stuart Methner's long throw-in from the right sideline was flicked into the right side of the goal by the head of Lincoln Schnell.

 

Seattle Pacific reclaimed the lead after a flurry of shots. Owen Gortner's attempt from the right side of the box caromed off the left post, but stayed in play. The Falcons collected the ball, which made its way to Joey Van Horn at the top edge of the box. His hard, left-footed attempt smacked off the crossbar and sailed straight into the air. When it came down, Gortner was there to head the ball in from the goal line at 76:03.
 
UPS again equalized, at 86:03. An in-swinging corner kick from the right side was punched away by Samson. It carried to Ian Cameron 13 yards from the goal and he headed it into the upper right corner to force overtime.
 
The SPU men now hit the road for the first time this season, visiting Lacey, Washington for a clash with Saint Martin's on April 21 at 3:00 p.m.
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 3, Puget Sound 2 (ot)
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Alex Mejia (Titus Grant, Alden Massey), 13:38; 2, UPS, Lincoln Schnell (Stuart Methner), 66:06; 3, SPU, Owen Gortner (Joey Van Horn), 76:03; 4, UPS, Ian Cameron (unassisted), 86:03; 5, SPU, Sam Malloch (Massey, Mejia), 90:33.
 
                       1   2  OT  --  TOTAL
Puget Sound            0   2   0  --    2
Seattle Pacific        1   1   1  --    3
 
Shots – UPS 5, SPU 20.
Shots on Goal – UPS 4, SPU 8.
Saves – UPS 5 (Andrew Matheny), SPU 2 (Lars Helleren 1, Matthew Samson 1).
Corner Kicks – UPS 3, SPU 11.
Fouls – UPS 9, SPU 10.
Offsides – UPS 0, SPU 1.
 
Records
Puget Sound 4-7-2
Seattle Pacific 2-1-0
 
Next SPU Men's Soccer Game
Seattle Pacific at Saint Martin's
Wednesday, April 21, 3:00 p.m. PDT
Saints Field / Lacey, Wash.