SEATTLE – Defender Ashlyn Valdovinos registered her first career multi-score game with two first-half goals that ignited 18th-ranked Seattle Pacific's 4-1 women's soccer home triumph over Saint Martin's, Thursday in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
 
The four-goal outburst marked the largest output for the Falcons this season. The previous high total came in their last outing, a 2-2 home draw with top-ranked Colorado Mines on Saturday. Joining Valdovinos in the scoring column were teammates Taylor Krueger and Izzy Fallarme.
 
SMU averted the shutout with 14 minutes left to play on a 12-yard drive by Briana-Jean Tanaka that snuck past goalkeeper Landry Schoennauer.

The Falcons (3-1-2) are undefeated in their last three outings with two wins and a tie during that stretch. SMU (1-4-0) sustained its third straight setback.
 
FROM COACH ARBY BUSEY
"Very good start to the game, and fantastic first half for us tonight. Ashlyn did a great job on a corner, staying engaged and ready so when the ball came her way she was able to finish. Great first half for her, and for our team to get on the board early.
 
"We continued to put pressure on our opponents and created some really good opportunities. Ashlyn got a second, Taylor Krueger had a great goal, and Izzy did awesome to get forward and finish from left back. Getting three goals from the left back spot comes from our ability to keep the ball and allow those players to get higher up the field into our attack.
 
"It is an excellent start to our GNAC season. We rest up now and look forward to another opportunity together on Saturday."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SPU's Taylor Krueger generated the game's first shot little more than four minutes after kickoff with a 25-yard attempt that goalkeeper Mallory Patzer tipped over the crossbar. That saved strike set up a right-side corner kick that initiated the opening goal.
• (GOAL) The set-piece serve to the top of the 6-yard box was deflected out just outside the 18 where Ashlyn Valdovinos unleashed a first-timer into the lower right corner only 4-minutes, 56-seconds into the contest.
• (GOAL) The junior defender struck again just over eight minutes later, on what appeared to be a cross. Valdovinos' boot, from a difficult angle at the left edge of the box, evaded traffic before slipping past the keeper with exactly 13 minutes played.
• A header by Kayla Wallace in the 16th minute caromed back into play off the crossbar and teammate Andie Buckley's 21st-minute shot faced a similar fate.
• (GOAL) Krueger, who was credited with an assist on SPU's first goal, put one in the back of the net herself at 27:54. Maya Parman beat a defender down the left wing before sending a low cross parallel to the endline. From near the left post, Krueger redirected the ball into the goal.
• (GOAL) Freshman Izzy Fallarme netted her inaugural collegiate goal three minutes before intermission. Alice Anderson received a pass from Maddie Cooke and slipped a through ball into the box. Fallarme raced to the ball before firing a 12-yard liner inside the right post.
• Saint Martin's finally attempted a shot at 56:19. Brooke Streeter broke free into the box before sending a low drive that was stopped by goalkeeper Landry Schoennauer, who had entered the game at halftime in place of starter Mercedes Cullen.
• (GOAL) The Saints spoiled the shutout 4:59 before the final whistle started by a lofted pass from Angely Puga at the left sideline. She found Briana-Jean Tanaka 30 yards out near the center of the field. Tanaka dribbled into the box and beat two defenders before her low, 12-yard shot got past the diving Schoennauer.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

• The first-half shot count was 11-0 in favor of the Falcons. Seven of their attempts were on frame, requiring goalkeeper Mallory Patzer to make three saves.
• For the game, the hosts outshot the Saints by a 19-3 count.
• SPU altered its game starting lineup for the second half, including the goalkeeper position. Starter Mercedes Cullen departed, having not faced a shot in the opening 45 minutes. Backup keeper Landry Schoennauer was credited with two saves.
• Twenty-four players saw action for the Falcons, including a collegiate debut for freshman Gianna Parry and season debuts by Lauren Rife and Jes Lizotte.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Thursday's result marked the 10th consecutive win for SPU in its conference opener. The last time the Falcons failed to post a win in the first GNAC game of a season was 2015 when they played Simon Fraser to a scoreless draw.
• Valdovinos, who had three goals all of last year, scored two on Thursday.
• The Falcons gained a measure of revenge from the last time these teams met, on Oct. 26, 2024. SMU left Interbay Stadium with a 2-1 win in that matchup.
• SPU got great offensive production from defenders in the left back position. Izzy Fallarme replaced Valdovinos at left back and added a goal to the starter's two scores.

UP NEXT
The Falcons return to action Saturday for their first conference road game at 6 p.m. in Monmouth, Oregon. That is a clash of the GNAC's only ranked teams with No. 18 SPU visiting No. 16 Western Oregon.

 
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