SEATTLE - The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team welcomed a hungry Chico State team to Interbay Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats were a tough test early, but a ball from Kathryn Nyone found the right foot of Kayla Wallace for the separator in the 75th minute in the team's 1-0 victory.
The Wildcats brought a different style to the Pacific Northwest than the one seen by the Falcons last Thursday night. The Wildcats pressured when SPU tried to possess, creating a several chances for the visitors. Ultimately, the style resulted in an 8-4 shot advantage for the Wildcats in the first half.
SPU made the adjustments needed in the second half. They owned a 9-5 shot advantage in the second half, which had both teams even 13 shots for the match.
"We talked at halftime about playing a little bit quicker, moving the ball, using one or two touches, and getting it around the field," Arby Busey said. "I thought that helped us get more people involved, kept us more engaged, and made a huge difference in the second half. It helped us gain more momentum that we kept hold of and capitalize on."
The Falcons had chances to go ahead in the second half as Jacklyn Blakeley rattled off four shots that nearly found the back of the net. In the 58th minute, Blakeley forced Chico's Emma Hoffman to make an incredible save, diving to her right. The score stayed knotted at nothing.
The Falcons found the scoreboard in the 75th minute. Nyone received a throw-in before lining up a perfect cross from left to right that landed just outside the six-yard box. Wallace used the side of her right foot to get the ball past the keeper for the goal. The goal is Wallace's first in her collegiate career.
"Kayla is somebody who puts herself in pretty good spots around the goal consistently in practice," Busey added. "She had a great week of practice where she was scoring goals. It's great to see that carry over into a game."
Mercedes Cullen picked up her first career clean sheet on Thursday night and would add another on Saturday. She made six saves over 90 minutes and led the defense to another shutout.
"We were fighting and scrapping and doing everything we can and using every last inch of our souls to keep the thing out of the net, and it's happening," Busey said. "It's a lot of grit, resilience and hard work that are keeping the ball out of the net. Our opponents have done some things to unlock us and put themselves in spots. Sometimes our keeper is making a great save or our center back blocking a shot, or somebody getting a toe in to deflect the ball enough, it has been a collective effort to keep that zero on the other side of the scoreboard. They've been brilliant so far at that."
It'll be a quick turnaround for the Falcons, as they travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for a match against Westminster on Monday at 10 a.m. PST
