SEATTLE – The SPU women's soccer team returned to Interbay Stadium on Thursday night, playing host to Western Oregon, as the Falcons struck early with two goals in the first half and would go on to take the match 2-1.
The Falcons were excellent for the entirety of the match. They sent 22 shots at the Wolves' keeper, with nine coming on goal. SPU created five corner kicks while allowing none for WOU. The constant attack from the Falcons led to the result they were after.
"It's always good to start a game against a challenging opponent with early goals," head coach Arby Busey said. "It was good for us to settle into that game by finding two goals early on. We had a couple of other chances that they kept out of the net. We concede one, but fought our way back."
Lauren Forster scored for the second time in as many games. Tonight's goal came in the 6th minute of the match. Jacqueline Blakeley was making a run toward the center of the 18-yard box before she passed the ball off to Chloe Gellhaus on the right side. The perfect pass from Blakeley allowed Gellhaus to cross the ball in front of the net where Forster sent it in for the score. The goal put the Falcons up 1-0 in the early stages.
The Falcons scored again the in the 15th minute of the match. Sophie Beadle was working against her defender on the left side of the field. She turned the corner and ran down the end line toward the goal with the ball. She sent it forward to Blakeley who was four yards in front of the goal. Blakeley sent the ball into the top left roof of the goal to put the Falcons up 2-0.
Kathryn Nyone, Lauren Snedeker, Marissa Bankey, and the rest of the defense played hard. The Falcons allowed the Wolves just eight shots for the match with four coming on goal. Mercedes Cullen made three saves on the evening.
"I thought our second half was very professional in the way we managed their attack," Busey said. "At that point, we had what we needed on the scoreboard. It was about seeing it out and not conceding anything. I thought our women did a really good job of seeing that game out."
The Falcons are back at Interbay on Saturday as they host Saint Martin's for a match that starts at 7 p.m.
