SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team opened its season in the win column on Thursday afternoon, while goals from Jacqueline Blakeley, Chloe Gellhaus, and an own goal led the way in a 3-2 win over Westminster.
Settling into Thursday's match wasn't an option for the Falcons or the Griffins. Blakeley was opportunistic with a chance in the first minute of the match. She sent a shot past the Westminster keeper and into the upper right corner. The blitzkrieg gave the Falcons a 1-0 before a minute had passed.
SPU had a chance to grow their lead in the 12th minute. Marissa Bankey stood over a corner for the Falcons and booted it into the box. The ball rattled around and bounced off Westminster's Alivia Peterson, resulting in an own goal. Early in the first half, the Falcons held and carried a 2-0 lead into halftime.
The start of the second half had a very similar look and feel for the Falcons. SPU went on the attack and worked their way into the box. Lauren Forster crossed the ball in from the left, finding the foot of Gellhaus. Gellhaus tapped the ball past the keeper to extend the Falcon lead.
"I think we were super excited to start the season," head coach Arby Busey said. "I think that was reflected in the early performance. We capitalized a couple of times and got exactly what we wanted out of it. We saw the half out well and got to halftime in a great position. We got off to another great start in the second half, but we knew it wasn't going to come easily."
Westminster did not go away quietly in Thursday's season-opening match. In the 63rd minute, the Griffins were threatening to put their first point on the board. Mackenzie Aiken committed a foul in the box that led to a penalty kick. Westminster's Cassidy Orr put the ball through, closing SPU's lead to 3-1.
The Griffins made good on another opportunity set up by the Falcons in the 75th minute. A free kick from Necie Gubler was slotted into the upper right corner. Suddenly, SPU led by one with 15 minutes left to play.
"Credit to Westminster, " Busey added. "They are a good team with a ton of pride and athletic soccer players. They changed things on us and put it on us for a good while in the second half. We had to claw to survive the last bits of that game. We ended up getting what we wanted in a win to open the season."
Landry Schoennauer made her first collegiate start for the Falcons on Thursday. She played the full 90 minutes, making three saves along the way. Her biggest save came in the 85th minute when the Griffins sent one toward the bottom right corner. Schoennauer got in front of it, halting Westminster on the way to the SPU victory.
"For everyone in their first year, there is definitely a transition," Busey said. "Even more so for goalkeepers. The game is very fast and things happen quickly. To process and communicate the information they're seeing with leadership qualities needed is a huge hill to climb. She gave a great accounting of herself and played well beyond her years. It was great to get her feet wet. It'll be huge for her and for us moving forward."
The Falcons return to Interbay Soccer Stadium on Saturday morning for an 11 a.m. match against Cal Poly Humboldt.
"Humboldt had a great finish to their season last year with a postseason appearance," Busey said. "I think they'll start this year in the same place they finished last year with excitement. We'll have to match that, get our bodies ready, and attack Saturday the way we want."
