SEATTLE – It was a dream senior day for the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team, as AJ DePinto scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 11th minute, lifting the Falcons over Northwest Nazarene 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Kaitlynn Knocke, Ally Veenhuizen, Brooklyn Morrison, DePinto, Toni Miranda, and Callie Rheaume were honored before Saturday's match. All made the start for SPU and led the team to Saturday's victory.
"It's an amazing group of women that have been so influential to every one of us as they've made their way through this program," head coach Arby Busey said. "They've had a tougher road than the average college student. They've dealt with a pandemic, everything that brings, and the aftermath of that. We've had smoke and fires this year. I don't think they've had a normal year of college, and all they did was keep smiling through it and working through those challenges. To reward them with a win on their special night is the least we can do to say thank you."
DePinto supplied the biggest on-field moment early in the match. Sophie Beadle found senior teammate DePinto near the 18-yard box. She settled it and fired away from 20-yards out. The shot zipped past the keeper, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead that eventually turned into a win.
"It's fun for AJ," Busey said. "She's someone who has scored goals for us during her time here. It's great for us to have that be the difference tonight. To be out there with her classmates when she scores it is storybook kind of stuff in terms of the right person at the right time with the right thing happening and what she's been for us."
Knocke had big moments throughout the match as well. She spent 90 minutes in goal, making five crucial saves throughout the match. It was Knocke's first shutout this season, and the third of her career at SPU.
With Saturday's win, the Falcons secured a rematch with Northwest Nazarene in the semifinals of next weekend's Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament. NNU is the host, as the tournament runs from Nov. 3-5.
"They've been an amazing team at home," Busey added. "That place has been very, very kind to them. We know we're going into a hostile environment. We've been in these situations before. I trust our women and the experience we've had. This time of year, that stuff makes a difference. You saw and heard and felt the fight within the group tonight to give our seniors what they deserve. I think that momentum we created tonight will be something we fight moving forward."
