SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Madison Ibale's first goal in four years provided all the scoring Seattle Pacific would need Thursday and AJ DePinto added a late score for a 2-0 women's soccer non-conference win over San Francisco State at Cox Stadium.
 
For the second time in as many games this season, the Falcons (2-0-0) went without a goal during the opening 45 minutes before producing two second-half scores. Both goals Thursday came off headers from the top of the 6-yard box.
 
The decisive strike came on Ibale's second career tally. The senior defender's only other goal came in the 79th minute of a 6-0 victory at Saint Martin's on Oct. 14, 2017.
 
Ava Giovanola served a right-side corner kick to the center of the box. Ibale rose above several other players in the congested goalmouth and hammered home a header at 54:33 to break the deadlock.

MADISON IBALE GOAL

"We talked about corner kicks being really important today," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "Madison is somebody that we count on at those things because she's tall, strong and good in the air. She had one last week that she wishes she wanted back. She got an opportunity just like that one and was on the spot today."
 
DePinto registered the insurance goal with 5-minutes, 37-seconds remaining to secure the outcome. SPU gained possession on the left flank after the Gators were unable to clear the ball.
 
Claire Neder dribbled to the side of the 18-yard box and served a cross to the right side of the goalmouth. DePinto nodded a looping shot into the top left corner for her second career score.
 
"AJ is another player that's really good in the air," Busey described. "She works her socks off and was in the right place at the right time. She took advantage of that moment really well.
 
"It was great for us to have some other people get on the scoresheet."
 
Senior goalkeeper Riley Travis stopped three shots for SPU en route to the clean sheet, the 13th shutout of her career.
 
San Francisco's Sommer Harrington was credited with two saves, which was outshot by a 10-6 margin.
 
The game was scoreless at halftime with just six shots between the combatants. SPU was limited to three shots and none of them were directed on frame. The Gators countered with a trio of first-half shots and the only attempt on goal was lofted from distance in the third minute and easily collected by Travis.
 
AJ DePINTO GOAL

The offense picked up for both teams after intermission, but the Gators never breached the goal.
 
SFSU's Sydney Yuen broke free in the 65th minute needing only to beat Travis. Yuen's shot from the right side of the box carried just wide of the left post.
 
In the 77th minute, Travis was forced to dive to her right a few yards out from the left post to smother a hard shot by Glory Smith in the 77th minute.
 
San Francisco State (1-4-0) has been outscored by a combined 8-2 margin this season.
 
THROW-INS
• DePinto netted the second goal of her career. Her first came on Sept. 26, 2019 in a 3-0 win at Northwest Nazarene.
 
• A trio of SPU players were on the field for all 90 minutes, including goalkeeper Riley Travis and defenders Mariah Alexander and Madison Ibale.
 
• With two shots, senior forward Claire Neder was the only Falcon to attempt more than one. Eight other SPU players each had one shot.
 
• SPU's leading scorer, Sophia Chilczuk, was held without a shot in 68 minutes of action.
 
NEXT GAME
The Seattle Pacific women conclude their season-opening, three-game homestand on Saturday at Stanislaus State. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Warrior Stadium in Turlock, California.
 
The Falcons first home game is also their Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener, a Sept. 23 clash with Montana State Billings. Kick-off is 3 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Cox Soccer / San Francisco, Calif.
 
Seattle Pacific 2, at San Francisco State 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Madison Ibale (Ava Giovanola), 54:33; 2, SPU, AJ DePinto (Claire Neder), 84:23.
 
                        1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific         0   2  --    2
San Francisco State     0   0  --    0
 
Shots – SPU 10, SFSU 6.
Shots on Goal – SPU 4, SFSU 3.
Saves – SPU 3 (Riley Travis), SFSU 2 (Sommer Harrington).
Corner Kicks – SPU 7, SFSU 1.
Fouls – SPU 8, SFSU 5.
Offsides – SPU 1, SFSU 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 2-0-0
San Francisco State 1-4-0
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
Seattle Pacific at Stanislaus State
Saturday, September 18, 7:00 p.m.
Warrior Stadium / Turlock, Calif.