SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team hosted the reigning national champion Western Washington Vikings on Saturday evening and played a hard-fought, tightly-contested match that ended in a 1-1 draw.

"It was what everybody anticipates when these two teams take the field together," head coach Arby Busey said. "It's going to be competitive, the margins are small, and it lived up to all that and then some. We played in a great atmosphere tonight with a lot of tension. Our hope is to get to play in lots of games like this.

The Falcons and Vikings played a nearly identical first half to one another. Both teams had seven shots, with each keeper making three saves. It culminated in a 0-0 tie at the break.

Like she's been so many times before, Sophie Beadle was the catalyst that sparked the SPU offense. Beadle broke up a possession for the Vikings and went toward the goal. She drew another defender in and dished the ball to Jacqueline Blakeley. Blakeley scored her second goal this weekend, putting the Falcons up 1-0 in the 50th minute.

Blakeley has tied her goal total from the 2022 season in half as many games. She leads the Falcons with four goals and nine points in 2023.

­­The Vikings found a way to tie the match in the 82nd minute. Morgan Manalili ripped a shot from 20 yards out to the lower left corner. The ball snuck in, leveling the score 1-1.

SPU had a crucial opportunity to win the game in the 90th minute. WWU's Emily Rice committed a foul in the box, setting up a penalty kick for the Falcons. Marissa Bankey stepped up for SPU but missed just right.

Mercedes Cullen was in goal for the Falcons. She played a solid 90 minutes. Cullen faced 15 shots, six on goal and made five saves during the match.

"All credit to our opponent tonight," Busey said. "They kept fighting and found their way through to tie it up. That's why they have as many trophies as they have. They find ways to do things that other teams can't. We had to be on our game for 90 minutes, or they will punish you. It allows is to learn, grow and be better. We'll play another game like this on Thursday, so this is good preparation for where we're headed."

The Falcons hit the road next weekend for matches against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. SPU plays NNU on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. PST followed by a meeting with CWU on Saturday at 7 p.m.