BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A remarkable, back-and-forth women's soccer game between Seattle Pacific and Western Washington featured eight goals, three ties and three lead changes. The only thing it didn't have was a winner.
 
A first-half goal and assist from Sophia Chilczuk were not enough for seventh-ranked SPU, which gave up four second-half scores on Saturday to the Vikings, who forged a 4-4 double-overtime tie at Harrington Field.
 
Chloe Gellhaus opened the scoring in the 12th minute on a play initiated by Chilczuk, who then tallied a 19th-minute goal.
 
After yielding three unanswered goals to relinquish a 2-0 halftime advantage, the Falcons drew even in the 75th minute with a strike by Makena Rietz. They got what was nearly the game-winning goal, but proved to be only a go-ahead score, with just over 12 minutes left to play on defender Mariah Alexander's finish after a set piece.

"To find the wherewithal, after having the lead that we had and conceding that, to come back showed a great deal of fortitude from our players," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "It was not surprising that we were able to do that because that's who we've been thus far in this abbreviated spring season. We've really grown resilient and we needed that today."

MARIAH ALEXANDER GOAL

Western's Zola Carbone stole the win from SPU with 16 seconds left in regulation with the tying score from a congested area around the left post.
 
Neither team found a goal during either of the two, 10-minute overtime sessions.
 
"It may not be what we expected in terms of the score and the amount of goals, but that's what you expect when these two teams get together," Busey said. "It reminded me of one of those old-time heavyweight fights where it's just both teams going back-and-forth.
 
"Both teams showed an amazing mentality. They certainly have won their share of games in the past and showed why they've done that in terms of their comeback. We fought back ourselves. At the end of the day, maybe a tie is what was supposed to happen."
 
Both teams remain undefeated, although the Falcons (5-0-1) had their five-game winning streak halted. Western (1-0-2) posted its second draw of the season.
 
SPU's spectacular offense continued to thrive, extending a season-long streak of registering at least four goals in every game. The Falcons have outscored foes by a combined 26-4 margin this year.
 
Estera Levinte scored twice for the Vikings, the first coming at 51:40. That was the first goal allowed this season by SPU, stopping a scoreless streak of 501-minutes, 40-seconds.
 
Three more WWU tallies followed over a span of 38:04 as the Falcons gave up four second-half goals after going 11 periods without being scored upon.
 
Riley Travis played all 110 minutes between the posts for Seattle Pacific and stopped six shots.
 
Natalie Dierickx started in goal and made five saves for the Vikings, who were outshot by a 19-13 margin. She was replaced in the 60th minute by Abigail Trengove, who remained in the lineup through both overtimes and stopped two shots.

SOPHIA CHILCZUK GOAL

 Goals Galore
Gellhaus started the scoring 11-minutes, 16-seconds into the contest on a rebound and put-back. Chilczuk went on a dribbling run into the right side of the box and fired a shot from a sharp angle. Dierickx dove to her right to deflect the attempt, but it caromed to Gellhaus who first-timed it into the center of the goal from eight yards out.
 
After setting up the first score, Chilczuk notched one of her own at 18:29. That continued a streak of getting a goal in every game she has played this season. Chilczuk has scored eight times in five games, equaling her career-high total from each of the previous two seasons. She accumulated eight goals in both 2019 and 2018, but in many more games, 20 and 18, respectively.
 
Claire Neder won an airborne dual for the ball off a Western goal kick 40 yards out. She dribbled down the left wing toward the goal, serving a low pas to the center just as she entered the box. On a full sprint, Chilzcuk reached her right leg out to push the ball past the goalkeeper and into the right side of the Vikings goal.
 
At halftime, the visitors owned an 11-4 shot advantage. The Vikings increased their offensive intensity and the shot count was 7-7 during the second half and 2-1 in their favor during overtime.
 
The lead was cut in half less than six minutes after intermission on a flicked header by Levinte that nicked the left post before trickling in. Caylie Etherington served a cross from 40 yards out to the top of the 6-yard box on the right side. Levinte leaped with the SPU goalkeeper on her back and nodded the ball into the goal.
 
The equalizer came at 66:39 off the foot of Dayana Diaz. Jayden Nguyen stole a pass near midfield and dribbled before feeding a low through ball forward. Diaz raced to reach the ball, took a touch inside the right side of the box and delivered a 12-yard strike into the upper left corner, just over the outstretched arms of Travis on a lofty dive.
 
At 73:19, Levinte lofted a shot into the upper right corner of the SPU goal from 32 yards out to provide the Vikings first lead.
 
That margin lasted exactly one minute. That's how long it took Rietz to level the score, 2-2, at 74:19. A corner kick from the left side wasn't completely cleared and Rietz reach the ball near the penalty spot and directed a low shot that was mishandled by the goalkeeper on its way across the line.
 
Another corner kick from the same position bobbled around the box before finding Alexander, a Falcons defender, around the far post. She poked a five-yard shot into the goal at 77:45.
 
Just when it seemed the Falcons would walk away with a one-goal win, the hosts forced overtime at 89:44.
 
A high cross from the right flank carried over Travis at the near post. The ball was loose at the left post where Abigail Arnold touched it to Carbone for a goalmouth shot that somehow found its way home through heavy traffic.
 
"It's a difficult time to concede the goal. But when it's all said and done, the goal's conceded and you move on to the next moment. That goal tied the game and we still had overtime to play," said Busey. "That goal didn't win the game for them, but certainly a lot of momentum moved to their side.
 
"We regrouped, but certainly that was an unfortunate time to concede so close to the end. It's tough, but the girls showed great mentality in overtime to create some quality opportunities."
 
Each team came close to a game-winning goal during overtime.
 
In the 93rd minute, Western's Grace Eversaul had a shot tipped away by Travis. Payton Neal followed up with a shot that traveled just inches wide of the right post.
 
SPU's Neder banged the ball off the crossbar from the left side of the box 15 seconds into the second overtime with the final attempt of the contest for either team.

CHLOE GELLHAUS GOAL

Next Week
The SPU women remain on the road to visit Lacey, Washington for a rematch with Saint Martin's on Thursday, April 29. Kick-off is 3 p.m. at Saints Field. The Falcons were 4-0 victors in this season's first encounter, on April 1 in Seattle.
 
Next Saturday, May 1, the Falcons entertain Central Washington for a 3:00 p.m. clash at Interbay Stadium.
 
Spectators are not allowed to attend games this season, but fans can watch the action live online at the SPU sports YouTube page -- https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports
 
Eight Falcons played more than 90 minutes on Saturday, including five who were on the field for the entire 110 minutes. Giving his weary team a break will be the first priority, according to Busey.
 
"First and foremost, we need to get our bodies back in the right place because there was a ton of exertion from the players that were out there. So, we need to rest and recover before we face two more GNAC opponents that will provide us big-time challenges.
 
"We go on the road again for a difficult matchup at Saint Martin's and then Central Washington coming to our place on Saturday will be challenging as well."

NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Harrington Field / Bellingham, Wash.
 
#7 Seattle Pacific 4, at Western Washington 4 (2ot)
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Chloe Gellhaus (Sophia Chilczuk), 11:16; 2, SPU, Chilczuk (Claire Neder), 18:29; 3, WWU, Estera Levinte (Caylie Etherington), 51:40; 4, WWU, Dayana Diaz (Jayden Nguyen), 66:39; 5, WWU, Levinte (unassisted), 73:19; 6, SPU, Makena Rietz (unassisted), 74:19; 7, SPU, Mariah Alexander (unassisted), 77:45; 8, WWU, Zola Carbone (Abigail Arnold), 89:44.
 
                        1   2  OT  OT  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific         2   2   0   0  --    4
Western Washington      0   4   0   0  --    4
 
Shots – SPU 19, WWU 13.
Shots on Goal – SPU 11, WWU 10.
Saves – SPU 6 (Riley Travis), WWU 7 (Natalie Dierickx 5, Abigail Trengove 2).
Corner Kicks – SPU 3, WWU 2.
Fouls – SPU 19, WWU 19.
Offsides – SPU 4, WWU 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 5-0-1
Western Washington 1-0-2
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
Seattle Pacific at Saint Martin's
Thursday, April 29, 3:00 p.m. PDT
Saints Field / Lacey, Wash.