SEATTLE – Freshman Kasey Toevs scored for the second consecutive outing, this one the decisive strike with just over 10 minutes remaining Friday night in Seattle Pacific's 2-1 non-conference men's soccer victory over St. Edward's at Interbay Stadium.
 
Toevs, a product of Quincy (Wash.) High School, tallied his inaugural collegiate goal in Wednesday's 2-1 home win over Dallas Baptist. Friday's game-winner was an 8-yard flicked header off a long free kick from Owen Swartout.
 
SPU's unbeaten streak extended to seven games, the last four of them wins. The Falcons completed non-conference play with a 5-1-2 record.
 
The Hilltoppers (2-2-2) played short-handed for the final 60 minutes after goalkeeper Angel Ramirez was sent off in the first half for a handball outside his box. The Falcons capitalized on the ensuing free kick as Isaac Ketcham served a cross to the left post that was tapped in by Lukas Shriner.
 
St. Edward's put in a game effort during the second half and temporarily forged a 1-1 tie on a 60th-minute strike by Christian Mezas.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Each team created a chance early in the contest, but neither resulted in a shot attempt. St. Edward's freed two forwards into the box against just one defender in the 16th minute, but a poor passing combination led to a turnover.
• A few minutes later, the Falcons Lucas Witthauer angled into the left side of the box on the dribble and rolled a pass across the goalmouth. None of his teammates was able to get a foot to the ball.
• The game's first testing shot came on a 20-yard free kick from SPU's Rafael Lucio from the left corner of the box. He curved a shot toward to the top left corner where goalkeeper Angel Ramirez batted it down before collecting the ball.
• Lucio got involved again and earned the free kick that led directly to the opening goal for SPU. He raced to steal the ball from goalkeeper Angel Ramirez who was two yards outside the box near the top-right corner. The ball rolled up the keeper and struck his arm for a handball foul. Since Ramirez was the last defender, he was shown a red card and sent off, forcing the Hilltoppers to play with 10 men for the final 60 minutes.
• (GOAL) Isaac Ketcham stood over the ball 20 yards away, just outside the right corner. He served a free kick toward the far post where Lukas Shriner outraced his defender before sliding to nudge the ball inside the left post at 30:04 for his first goal of the season.
• Despite playing short-handed, the Hilltoppers controlled play early in the second half and compiled the period's first four shots.
• Their most dangerous opportunity came three minutes after halftime when Matthew Devaney found himself free on the dribble in the right side of the box. He directed a 10-yard try from the right of goal that Falcons keeper Brian Lanier reached low to his left to deflect over the endline.
• (GOAL) St. Edward's leveled the score, 1-1, at 59:47 with Christian Mezas netting the equalizer. He ran free past a defender and lofted a 25-yard shot, over the outstretched arms of the SPU keeper, that kissed the crossbar on its way into the goal.
• Owen Swartout nearly provided another Falcons lead after goalkeeper Kaleo Francis came outside the box to head a ball away. Swartout reached the clearance and, with the keeper off his line, immediately first-timed a shot that carried just wide of the left post.
• Swartout made good on his next action, assisting on the game-winner with a long free kick.
• (GOAL) Kasey Toevs tallied the game-winning goal off the set piece at 79:43. He ran to the top-center of the 6-yard box to head Toevs' free kick into the right side of the Hilltoppers goal.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Each team attempted four shots during the first half, the difference being that SPU goalkeeper Brian Lanier stopped both attempts on goal while Hilltopper starter Angel Ramirez made one save before being sent off in favor of reserve Kaleo Francis.
• The final stat sheet showed the combatants still level in number of shots, with 15 apiece.
• Lanier was credited with three saves for the Falcons.
• The Hilltoppers goalkeeping tandem accumulated four saves and defender Irvin Abarca was credited with a team save after clearing the ball off the line at the left post in the 75^th minute on a shot by Harper Sabari.
• SPU's Lukas Shriner topped all players with four shots.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• At halftime, Seattle Pacific's national champion 1985 men's soccer team was honored as part of Legacy Night at Interbay Stadium. That squad won the third of the Falcons five overall NCAA men's soccer crowns. Several members of that squad were present along with Coach Cliff McCrath.
• Nine different players have a goal this season for the Falcons, who have outscored their foes by a 12-6 count.

UP NEXT
SPU begins Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next week at Interbay Stadium. They host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.