BILLINGS, Mont. – The Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team opened the penultimate weekend of the 2024 regular season on the road against Montana State University Billings on Thursday evening when
Carter Gay's late goal helped the Falcons split a point with the Yellowjackets.
"Proud of the boys and their response to come back," head coach
Kevin Sakuda said. "We had a bit of adversity in the second half, and the guys never quit."
SPU got on the board in the 20th minute against the Yellowjackets.
Raymundo Mendez was in his bag again, winning the ball at midfield before playing it long down the right side to
Christopher Soto. Soto turned the corner against his defender before scooting it back to Mendez just outside the 6-yard box. Mendez skimmed a shot into the left side of the net to put the Falcons up 1-0.
Mendez's goal was his 10th of the season for the Falcons. He's scored double-digit goals in both seasons at SPU. Mendez entered the weekend tied for the most goals in the GNAC. He also held the top spot in the conference in points.
Fireworks began to fly in the final 20 minutes of Thursday's match. Bjarn Fedkenhauer tied the game with a goal for the Yellowjackets in the 72nd minute. Later in the 84th minute, Sam Kemmer gave the Yellowjackets a late lead. Suddenly, the Falcons needed a goal.
First-year Falcon
Carter Gay found the game-tying goal in the 88th minute. The GNAC's leading assist man
Connor Tollan sent a pass that Gay put away for a goal. It was Gay's third goal of the season for SPU.
The Falcons poured in 12 shots to nine from the Yellowjackets. They were quality looks, as eight shots were goal.
JJ Diaz had three shots on goal in the match. Tollan and Soto had two shots each.
Pierluca Carnovale made four saves in Thursday's match.
The Falcons make another long road trip on Saturday when they travel to Monmouth, Ore. for an 11:00 a.m. match against Western Oregon at WOU Soccer Field.
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