TURLOCK, Calif. – Sophie Beadle scored early, and AJ DePinto added another first-half goal as Seattle Pacific continued its perfect start by blanking Stanislaus State, 2-0, on a warm, breezy Saturday evening at Warrior Stadium.
 
The Falcons (3-0-0) won for the third time in as many starts, all on the road, and now come home to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Thursday against Montana State Billings at Interbay Stadium.  SPU is undefeated during the calendar year, after going 8-0-1 in the spring.
 
Seattle Pacific started on the front foot, forcing saves by Amanda Leal three times in the opening six minutes before a corner kick led to the first goal. Beadle poked home her first score of the season and the fourth of her career at 7:12.
 
"We got an early goal, which was something we talked about," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "We wanted to push a little harder and see if we couldn't get a second goal earlier than the 85th minute. We didn't want to leave ourselves in jeopardy for as long as we have in the last couple games."
 
Busey was referring to the Falcons previous two outings in which they scored a pair of goals but didn't get the second until five minutes remained to play. They were 2-1 victors at Chico State on Sept. 11 and won 2-0 at San Francisco State on Sept. 16.
 
Since allowing a goal in the 37th minute at Chico, SPU has reeled off six unanswered goals.
 
The Falcons didn't have to wait long for their second goal on Saturday.
 
A half-hour after the opening strike, the visitors doubled the lead. Mia Mahaffey swung in a cross from the left wing. DePinto beat her defender to the far post and headed from point-blank range.
 
That was the second goal in as many games for the junior forward who came on as a reserve in both contests. DePinto has tallied three career goals.
 
"She's been really good at staying engaged in the game on the sideline, picking out some places she can exploit when she gets the opportunity," Busey said of DePinto. "AJ is good in the air and has done a good job in the last two games of getting that insurance goal for us. She's been fantastic on this road trip for us, kind of a super-sub."
 
 

Seattle Pacific owned a 10-3 edge in shots at intermission. Stanislaus State's (2-3-0) most dangerous chance came in the 15th minute, when Julia Cummings's first-time shot from yards sailed high.
 
Twice in the second half Chloe Gelhaus won balls deep in the opponent's half and hit low drives that forced Leal to dive to stop. She totaled 11 saves.
 
SPU was composed and comfortably managed the game throughout the second half, rarely allowing the Warriors possession in the attacking third until the final minutes. Riley Travis posted her 14th career shutout, and second this season, after making just two saves.
 
NEXT GAME
The Seattle Pacific women play their home opener, which is also their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest, on Thursday versus Montana State Billings. Kick-off is 3 p.m. at Interbay Stadium.
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Warrior Stadium Turlock, Calif.
 
Seattle Pacific 2, at Stanislaus State 0
 
Scoring – 1, SPU, Sophie Beadle (unassisted) 7:12; 2, AJ DePinto (Mia Mahaffey) 37:24.
 
                        1   2  --  TOTAL
Seattle Pacific         2   0  --    2
Stanislaus State        0   0  --    0
 
Shots – SPU 13, SSU 6.
Shots on Goal – SPU 13, SSU 2.
Saves – SPU 2 (Riley Travis), SSU 11 (Amanda Leal).
Corner Kicks – SPU 6, SSU 3.
Fouls – SPU 10, SSU 7.
Offsides – SPU 4, SSU 0.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 3-0-0
Stanislaus State 2-3-0
 
Next SPU Women's Soccer Game
Montana State Billings at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, September 23, 3:00 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.