SEATTLE – An early goal by
Kayla Wallace put Seattle Pacific ahead, but the 18th-ranked Falcons were unable hold off a two-goal rally in the second half Saturday that gave No. 16 Western Oregon a 2-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer win at WOU Turf Field.
The Falcons (3-2-2) had a three-game unbeaten streak snapped and saw their league record evened at 1-1. WOU (5-1-1) recorded its fourth straight victory to forge a 2-0 GNAC ledger.
Wallace tallied her first goal of the season in the 14th minute on a volley into the low left side. That provided a 1-0 lead SPU would carry into halftime.
The Wolves equalized 15 minutes into the second half on a lofted shot by Olivia Boger that caromed off the crossbar and into the goal. Kyra DiBenedetto struck with just over 13 minutes to play with the game-winner. She pressured the recipient of a Falcons goal kick, rushing the pass back to
Landry Schoennauer. The goalkeeper's clearance attempt deflected off the hustling DiBenedetto and rolled into the SPU goal.
FROM THE COACH
"Tough result tonight, but I absolutely loved the effort and commitment from our group," said SPU coach
Arby Busey. "We played against a very good team, and they got the best of us. It was an extremely competitive game, with both teams playing really hard.
"In these types of games, the margins are extremely small. Our opponents were able to take advantage of two moments and that made the difference. I love our group and look forward to getting back out on the field and getting to work on Monday."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- SPU's Kayla Wallace got the game's first shot, just 2-1/2 minutes into the contest, and it missed high.
- The Wolves didn't record a shot until nearly 11 minutes had expired. Kaitlin Taylor's try was saved by Falcons goalkeeper Mercedes Cullen.
- (GOAL) The third shot of the game for either team produced the first goal. SPU's Ella Smith floated a ball near the goal from outside the top of the box. Wallace reached it first and volleyed the ball into the lower left side of the goal at 13:16 for her first goal of the season.
- Four of the Wolves first-half attempts were on frame, but each of them was saved by Cullen. The hosts had the period's final five shots, over the final 15 minutes, and Cullen denied the final two of those to preserve the 1-0 lead.
- As they have done frequently this season, the Falcons swapped goalkeepers at halftime with Landry Schoennauer replacing Cullen, the starter.
- (GOAL) The Wolves drew level at 59:49 on a goal initiated with a long through ball from their defensive half by Leah Heugly. Olivia Boger raced to the ball 35 yards from goal and dribbled into the box before lofting a shot that nicked off the underside of the crossbar on its way into the SPU goal. That was her team-leading third score.
- In the 72nd minute, Western's Emma Smith had a dangerous shot that was collected by Schoennauer at the right post.
- (GOAL) Western Oregon got what proved to be the game-winning goal at 76:40, pressuring SPU into a miscue on a goal kick. Schoennauer booted the corner kick to her left back, who immediately passed back to the keeper. DiBenedetto pressed the return pass and then raced toward the goalkeeper, whose clearance attempt caromed off the Wolves forward and ricocheted into the Falcons goal.
- The Falcons hunted an equalizer, and nearly got one in the 80th minute. Nora Patterson fired a hard shot from the center of the box that WOU goalkeeper Isabella Lopez managed to deflect away.
- A last gasp attempt came with 30 seconds remaining, but Sophie Hanay's 30-yard looper was gathered by Lopez.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- Despite trailing 1-0 at halftime, Western Oregon registered an 8-3 shot advantage during the opening 45 minutes.
- The final shot count was 17-7 in favor of the Wolves.
- SPU's Kayla Wallace led all players with four shots.
- Sophie Hanay, Nora Patterson and Ava Suarez accounted for the team's other three shots.
- The Falcons did not earn a corner kick while their hosts had five.
- Starter Mercedes Cullen made four saves before giving way at halftime to Landry Schoennauer, who stopped three shots.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Saturday's result snapped a run of four consecutive ties in the series, including scoreless draws in both meeting last season between the Falcons and Wolves.
- Western Oregon (#16) and Seattle Pacific (#18) entered this weekend's action as the only two ranked teams in the GNAC.
UP NEXT
The Falcons return home to host a pair of games next week. They entertain Simon Fraser, the defending GNAC Tournament champion, on Thursday, Oct. 2. Kick-off is 5 p.m. at Interbay Stadium where SPU clashes with Western Washington on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. The Vikings are the defending conference regular-season champs.
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