SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team continues its run through the NCAA Tournament with a third-round match against Point Loma on Thursday at 1 p.m. PST in Grand Junction, Colo. The winner of that match continues to play the winner of UC Colo. Springs and host Colorado Mesa on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. PST.
QUOTABLE
"Our group is very excited to be playing again this week. Anytime you advance this far you face very good competition, and we are aware of the challenge that Point Loma presents. They are a fantastic team, and it will take our absolute best to get a result against them. It has been enjoyable to continue to prepare this past week, and we feel very good about how things have gone." – head coach Arby Busey.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
For the 10th time in program history, the SPU women's soccer team secured the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship on Nov. 2. The Falcons to a 12-2-5 overall record, including a spotless 9-0-5 in conference play. SPU captured its 10th GNAC women's soccer title with consistent quality throughout 2023. They closed out the regular season leading the conference with 95 points, 36 goals, 1.89 goals per game, and 23 assists.
Signature wins came on Sept. 16 when they beat then second-ranked Colorado School of Mines 2-1 on the road. Most recently, the team secured the conference title with a 2-0 shutout of Western Washington.
On the strength of their regular season, the Falcons earned the right to host the opening rounds of the NCAA West Regional. They had a first-round bye before playing CSU Los Angeles in the second round.
The Falcons advanced thanks to a game-winner from Lauren Forster, a shutout from Mercedes Cullen, and plenty of support from a packed Interbay Soccer Stadium.
After a quiet first half that featured four shots from the Falcons, SPU turned up the pressure. They out-shot the Golden Eagles 8-5 in the second half. Continued created chances led to the moment of the match for the Falcons.
The Falcons broke through in the 56th minute. Taylor Krueger worked down the right side of the field before serving the ball into the box. Forster got her left foot to it by the near post. She redirected the ball from three yards out and put it into the back of the net as several Golden Eagles crashed into Forster.
In a battle between the best offensive team in the GANC and one of the top defensive teams in Division II, Forster's goal was the third of her season and marked just the 10th time this year that the Golden Eagles have conceded a goal.
Cullen was her sensational self in goal for the Falcons. She made five saves and faced eight total shots in 90 minutes. The shutout was Cullen's sixth of the season for the Falcons.
MORE AND MORE AWARDS
The Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association announced its women's soccer West Region awards on Tuesday, with Seattle Pacific's Sophie Beadle, Jacqueline Blakeley, and Lauren Snedeker picking up First Team recognition while Marissa Bankey is on the Second Team.
College Sports Communicators announced its list of Academic All-District student-athletes on Tuesday afternoon, with Cullen, Forster, Moira MacKay, Kathryn Nyone, and Snedeker earning recognition for the Falcons.
ABOUT POINT LOMA
Like the Falcons, the Sea Lions hosted the half of the West Regional opening rounds. They advanced through the first round on a bye before taking on PacWest Conference foe CUI. PLNU scored twice in the first 15 minutes on their way to a 2-0 victory.
Point Loma has done it defensively throughout the 2023 season. The PLNU backline has yet to concede a goal in the run of play all season for a defense that allowed the fewest goals per game (0.60) in PacWest play, to go along with a 0.65 goals against average for the entire season.
The Sea Lions were well-represented in their conference's postseason awards. Head Coach Kristi Kiely was named PacWest Coach of the Year for the third time, while Emma Thrapp (Defender of the Year) and Nikki Ross (Freshman of the Year) also earned special recognition. In total, the Sea Lions had four first-teamers, three second-teamers, and two Third Teamers.
Thrapp continued to receive D2CCA First Team All-Region honors. Thrapp, an All-Region selection for the second straight year, has pitched in offensively with four goals and three assists.
Alana Diaz and Namoi Ellis wered named D2CAA Second Team All-Region. Diaz has scored five goals and added two assists, while Ellis has scored two goals this season.
