SEATTLE – Goals galore, but none for the opponent.
 
The Seattle Pacific women's soccer team has followed that winning formula to an undefeated record and unblemished defensive ledger.
 
Claire Neder netted two goals for the second straight game and Sophie Beadle distributed two assists Saturday, lifting undefeated SPU to a 4-0 victory over Western Oregon at Interbay Stadium.
 
It was Seattle Pacific's second home win over the Wolves in as many days, following a 5-0 decision on Friday afternoon.
 
"That's what you hope going in is going to be the end result, so we're happy with how both games played out," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "This weekend we were presented with some very unique challenges and our players responded extremely well. They found some really good, creative solutions to some things that will make us better moving forward."
 
Neder tallied the first two goals in Friday's game, less than 90 seconds apart, giving her four for the weekend.
 
The senior midfielder provided a 3-0 halftime lead Saturday with a goal in the 26th minute. Neder capped the scoring in the 71st minute off a fine feed from Sophia Chilczuk.

VIDEO: CLAIRE NEDER 1ST GOAL
 
"She was on fire this weekend. Claire has the ability, when she gets going, to be a very difficult matchup for everybody. She certainly was that this weekend in these games," Busey said. "Where Claire's game has really grown is the other side of the ball. With her ability to defend and press, she is able to now create things on her own when she goes and wins a ball. That makes here really dangerous as a two-way player.
 
"Sophie Beadle has also been phenomenal. With Claire doing what she's doing operating on the left and Beadle doing what she's doing on the right, it makes us really challenging to defend. When we are able to threaten the entire width of the field it makes it pretty hard for our opponents to deal with."
 
Beadle set up the team's first two goals, pushing her season total to a team-leading six assists. The freshman forward found Chilczuk open in the box just over two minutes after the opening kick-off and then initiated a Mekena Rietz strike in the 21st minute.

SOPHIE BEADLE INTERVIEW

Despite an outstanding one-goal, one-assist effort, Chilczuk had her streak of multi-goal games halted. The senior forward had scored twice in each of the three previous games in which she participated. Chilczuk tops the team with seven goals this season and has 27 for her career.
 
Chilczuk nearly picked up a second goal on Saturday, including two dangerous attempts in rapid succession. Her 59th minute try from left side clipped off the crossbar. Minutes earlier from nearly the same location she shot low, but goalkeeper Morgan Mihelich dove to the turf to smother the attempt.
 
SPU's spectacular offense amassed at least four goals in every game, including a pair of five-goal performances. The offense outscored opponents by a combined 22-0 tally this year.
 
On the other end of the field, the Falcons (5-0) sustained their spotless defensive record. They have not surrendered a goal this season, totaling 450 scoreless minutes.
 
Opposing offenses have managed less than five shots per game, totaling just 23 shots this season and only seven of them were directly on goal.

 

Coach Busey praises his defense, both for its ability to prevent goals but also to enhance the Falcons attack.
 
"A lot of time the defensive side of the equation is forgotten, especially when the offensive numbers are where they're at. Those guys on defense have been fantastic at staying engaged and making plays when they need to. They haven't let their guard down, they've been engaged and snuffed out everything that has been thrown at them.
 
"They are the platform from which we attack. They initiate so much of what we do attacking-wise. Then, defensively when they've been called upon, they have been fantastic."
 
Riley Travis started in goal for SPU and was called upon to make just one save before giving way to Kaitlynn Knocke for the final 14 minutes. That was one of only two shots the Falcons yielded Saturday, and the only one on frame.
 
Western Oregon goalkeeper Kendall Rooney allowed three goals and made three saves while facing a 12-shot barrage during the first half. Mihelich played the entire second half between the posts and also registered a trio of saves while giving up a single goal.
 
Two defenders pitched in to record team saves by clearing the ball off the goal line for the Wolves (1-5-0), who were outshot by a 23-2 margin for the game.
 
Chilczuk started the scoring just 2-minutes, 18-seconds into the contest off Beadle's assist. The low pass came from the right-side end line and Chilzcuk first-timed a low shot that snuck between the standing goalkeeper and the right post.
 
That lead doubled at 20:59 when Rietz found the mark from 17 yards out. Beadle delivered a long through ball that Rietz gathered before dribbling into the right side of the box and unleashing a low laser into the left side-netting.
 
MAKENA RIETZ GOAL

SPU secured a 3-0 lead to take into halftime after Neder scored at 25:48. She made a long dribbling run into the right side of the box before sending a strike from a sharp angle across the goalmouth and inside the left post.
 
The fourth, and final, goal came on a goalmouth tap-in by Neder at 70:56. She easily converted a perfectly placed low feed from Chilczuk, who had dribbled down the right flank and angled into the box leading up to the pass.
 
The SPU women hit the road next week for the first time this season. They visit Bellingham for a clash with rival Western Washington on Saturday, April 24. Kick-off is 4 p.m. at Harrington Field.
 
"That game is always a fun one. The teams will challenge each other because they are both very competitive groups," Busey said. "We're excited about the opportunity to go up there and play a rivalry game. The teams know each other really well, a lot of the kids played club soccer together.
 
"It's always super challenging to go into that environment up there and try to figure out a way to get a result. I expect nothing else this weekend, that the challenge will be immense for us heading up there."
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
at Seattle Pacific 4, Western Oregon 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Sophia Chilczuk (Sophie Beadle), 2:18; 2, SPU, Makena Rietz (Beadle), 20:59; 3, SPU, Claire Neder (unassisted), 25:48; 4, SPU, Neder (Chilczuk), 70:56.
 
                       1   2  --  TOTAL
Western Oregon         0   0  --    0
Seattle Pacific        3   1  --    4
 
Shots – WOU 2, SPU 23.
Shots on Goal – WOU 1, SPU 12.
Saves – WOU 8 (Kendall Rooney 3, Morgan Mihelich 3, Team 2), SPU 1 (Riley Travis 1, Kaitlynn Knocke).
Corner Kicks – WOU 1, SPU 6.
Fouls – WOU 13, SPU 5.
Offsides – WOU 0, SPU 0.
 
Records
Western Oregon 1-5-0
Seattle Pacific 5-0-0
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
Seattle Pacific at Western Washington
Saturday, April 24, 4:00 p.m. PDT
Harrington Field / Bellingham, Wash.