BURNABY, B.C. – It took extra time to decide the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Champions on Saturday morning, as the Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team fell 2-1 to a golden goal from Western Oregon in the 102nd minute of the match.  

FROM THE COACH
"It was a really great game between two top teams," head coach Kevin Sakuda said. "Our guys gave absolutely everything they had today.  Soccer can be a tough game, and losing this way hurts, but I couldn't be more proud of our team."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Brian Lanier started the match in goal for the Falcons, making a critical save in the 4th minute before a diving save in the 23rd minute to keep the match tied 0-0.
• Christopher Soto checked into the match in the 29th minute and came up huge for the Falcons moments later.
• In the 30th minute, Isaac Ketcham worked the ball down the left sideline to JP Guzman, who lofted the ball toward the box, where Soto put it away to put the Falcons up 1-0.
• SPU owned a 1-0 lead at halftime of the GNAC Championship match.
• Lanier came up big again early in the second half, tipping a WOU shot over the crossbar in the 50th minute of the match to keep the Falcons' lead intact.
• In the 57th minute, the Wolves drew a penalty inside the 18-yard box, leading to a penalty kick for WOU.
• • GNAC Player of the Year Yahir Ocampo Navarro made the penalty kick and tied the game 1-1.
• Thursday's semifinal match hero JJ Diaz nearly gave the Falcons the lead in the 68th minute, but a diving save from WOU's Austin Valdez kept the game tied 1-1.
• Lanier made another fantastic save in the 75th minute, thwarting a breakaway chance that would have given the Wolves the lead.
• Lucas Witthauer had a chance to give the Falcons the lead in the 80th minute, but his header from four yards out missed high.
• A long throw in from Kasey Toevs in the 88th minute that landed at the feet of Connor Tollan.
• • Tollan's point-blank shot was saved by the Wolves, as defenders knocked the ball away from the goal.
• The Wolves had a set piece from 25 yards out with nine seconds left in regulation, but the shot missed high and sent the match to extra time.
• A corner kick from the Falcons bounced around the box before Jackson Goode put it in the back of the net, but he was called offside.
• Lanier kept the game tied in the 98th minute with a diving save that he crawled on top to send
• In the 102nd minute of the match, Alex Gignon flipped a ball over the SPU defense to a sprinting Michael Divano, who scored and won the game and the GNAC Championship for the Wolves.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

• The Falcons had 12 shots, with six of them on goal, in the GNAC Championship match.
• • Diaz led the Falcons with two shots, while 10 Falcons had one shot each against the Wolves.
• Lanier faced 21 shots and made eight saves for the Falcons.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Soto's goal was the second of the season and of his career with the Falcons.
• Lanier faced a season-high 21 shots and made a season-best eight saves for the Falcons.

GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• JJ Diaz was selected to the GNAC All-Tournament Team after scoring three goals in two matches for the Falcons.
• Lukas Shriner was selected to the GNAC All-Tournament Team with two assists in two matches for the Falcons.
• Christopher Soto was selected to the GNAC All-Tournament team after scoring a goal in the championship match on Saturday.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will watch the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 4:00 p.m. PST to find out if they've qualified for the NCAA Tournament, which begins on November 20 and is played at campus sites across the country.

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