SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team picked up a solid conference win over Northwest Nazarene powered by goals from Taylor Krueger and Lauren Snedeker while Landry Schoennauer made her first start in goal in 2024 and picked up the win.
"Hard fought to win today, had to keep working to find some solutions," head coach Arby Busey said. "All the credit to our team for sticking with things and getting it going in the second half."
The Falcons and Nighthawks played an even first 45 minutes, as they carried a 0-0 tie into halftime. SPU created seven shots in the first half to four from NNU. The Falcons also had chances from corner kicks with 10 in the first half. Still, nothing found the back of the net in the first half.
That changed in the 68th minute when Taylor Krueger put the Falcons on the board. Logann Dukes smashed a shot toward the NNU keeper, who knocked it down. It fell at Krueger's feet and she finished from two yards out.
Krueger has scored in three consecutive matches for the Falcons. She now ranks second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with four goals. She sits one behind teammate Kayla Wallace, who leads the league with five. Krueger's fourth goal of 2024 matches her 2023 season total. Krueger was named GNAC Newcomer of the Year and was an All-Conference Honorable Mention a season ago.
SPU added on to its lead in the 74th minute. NNU 's Kate Bleffart committed a handball in the box, setting up a penalty kick for the Falcons. Snedeker stepped up to make the penalty kick to give the Falcons the goal they would need to get the win.
Schoennauer made her first start of 2024 in goal for the Falcons on Thursday. Defensive support from Kailalani Ahuna, Ella Smith, Landrey McCann, and Kathryn Nyone made the workload manageable for Schoennauer. She faced 10 shots from the Nighthawks, with four coming on goal. She made three saves and picked up the win.
"Taylor Krueger is in great form right now," Busey said. "She's confident and has been very dangerous and threatening in recent games. She's been awesome and impacts games in so many ways for us. Landry was very good today in goal. She made saves when needed, and was great with the ball at her feet initiating our attack. Good performance today. Now it's getting some rest to prepare for another opportunity on Saturday."
The Falcons host Central Washington on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Interbay Soccer Stadium.
SPU SOCIAL
Seattle's only NCAA Division II Scholarship Program | #GoFalcons
