SEATTLE – The first-place Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team returns home for a pair of matches this weekend. The Falcons host Central Washington on Thursday at 7 p.m. followed by a Saturday afternoon match against Northwest Nazarene at 4:30 p.m.
QUOTABLE
"We are glad to be at home and not traveling this week. We need to be focused on the task at hand. In some ways, it can be easier to lock in on the games when you are on the road as you are out of your routine environment. The bus rides allow you to focus on the game as you travel. For us, it will be enjoying the comfort of home but being ready and prepared come game time. The group has done a great job of that, and our veteran players have been amazing leaders. We'll need to solve the challenges each team presents this weekend as we face teams for the second time. They will have made adjustments, and we'll need to adapt to those. We are excited to be back in front of our fans at Interbay this weekend, and hope we can continue to play well." - head coach Arby Busey.
LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons opened last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Western Oregon. Both teams finished the match with nine shots. SPU had the edge in quality looks, getting six shots on goal compared to four from the Wolves.
In the 46th minute, Jacqueline Blakeley crossed the ball into the box toward Chloe Gellhaus. The WOU keeper tried to smother the ball, but it popped out at the feet of Gellhaus. She quickly put the ball in the back of the net to put the Falcons up 1-0.
The Wolves answered in the 54th minute. Lauren Snedeker and Taylor Krueger had great chances down the stretch that did not fall.
Last Saturday, the Falcons made the short trip to Saint Martin's to capture a 2-0 victory on the road. SPU scored twice in the 69th minute. Marissa Bankey ripped a corner kick into the box that resulted in an own goal that put the Falcons up 1-0. Then, Kayla Wallace went down the field and snuck a shot from just outside the 18-yard box to put SPU up 2-0.
Mercedes Cullen was in goal for the Falcons and picked up her fourth shutout of the season. Kathryn Nyone, Mackenzie Aiken, Kailalani Ahuna, and Bankey helped keep the Saints to two shots on goal. Cullen saved both in the 2-0 victory.
UNITED SOCCER COACHES NATIONAL TOP 25 POLL
The Falcons are in the United Soccer Coaches National Top 25 Poll once again this week. SPU ranks 24th in the country. They're the only team in the GNAC that appears in the poll.
CLOSING IN ON HISTORY
The Falcons lead the GNAC women's soccer standings. With two weeks to go in the season, SPU is closing in on its 10th regular-season GNAC title. They are in first place with a 7-0-3 conference record and 24 points to their name. Western Washington sits in second place with a 6-1-3 GNAC record and 21 points.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats are 3-11-1 overall in 20223 with a 2-7-1 conference record. They're in eighth in the standings but are just four points out of fifth with four games left to play. The Wildcats have given up 2.07 goals per game while scoring .87 goals per game this season. Casey Park leads the group with three goals, while four Wildcats have scored two goals each.
ABOUT THE NIGHTHAWKS
The Nighthawks are 4-4-6 in 2023 with a 2-4-4 GNAC record. They own 10 points and are in sixth in the standings. NNU could be considered one of the unluckiest teams in the conference. They haven't won in eight matches, but have held a lead or have been tied in the final five minutes in seven of the eight games since Sept. 23.
The Nighthawks have allowed .79 goals per game while scoring just .86 goals per game. Madison Grande and Nicole Lewis are tied with a team-high three goals in 2023. Bailey Blancett has played all of the minutes in goal for the Nighthawks. She's had seven shutouts this season but is 4-4-6 on the year.
