SEATTLE, WA— (GoSeattleU.com) In a hard-fought Western Athletic Conference men’s soccer match, Seattle University received an early goal as well as great defense the rest of the way to defeat San Jose State, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Championship Field.
Seattle U held possession early on in the match, as Sam Langston (Sammamish, Wash.) directed a long pass into the box, where David Olsen (Auburn, Wash.) redirected it with his head into the net for his third goal of the weekend and seventh goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, the Redhawks threatened to extend the lead, but three consecutive shots were all blocked by the San Jose State defense.
San Jose State (4-9, 2-3 WAC) gained the possession edge at the start of the second half, with forward Rory Knibbs creating a golden opportunity by drawing a foul within the 18-yard box for a penalty kick. However, Knibbs’s effort was stopped by Redhawk keeper Shane Haworth (Puyallup, Wash.), and the Redhawks used that save as a rallying point.
WAC Men’s Soccer Standings through October 18, 2015
The Redhawks created a couple more scoring chances later in the second half, but shots by Sergio Rivas (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Alex Roldan (Pico Rivera, Calif.) were turned away by San Jose State goalie Felix Petermann. In all, Petermann was credited with four saves, while Haworth earned three saves on the way to his sixth shutout of the season.
“My hats off to San Jose State, who came here and battled the entire way, they are a much better team than their record shows,” Seattle U head coach Pete Fewing said. “I have never seen a penalty kick save ignite a team the way Shane’s save ignited our team, so that was huge. In a season like we are having, you are going to have matches like this one, where you roll up your sleeves and survive. I am happy for our guys to get the win.”
Seattle U enjoyed a slight edge in shots, 14-12, led by Rivas and Olsen with three shots apiece, while Knibbs and Jonathan Colunga took three shots apiece for the Spartans.
Seattle University (12-3, 5-1 WAC), now at the top of the WAC standings, will head out on the road next weekend, facing UNLV Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. and Grand Canyon Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2:30 p.m. The Redhawks will host Incarnate Word Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. on Senior Day before closing the regular season at Utah Valley Saturday, Nov. 7.
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SEATTLE, WA— (GoSeattleU.com) The Seattle University women’s soccer team battled with Grand Canyon University throughout the day, as the Redhawks held on to defeat the Antelopes, 3-2, Sunday afternoon in a Western Athletic Conference contest at Championship Field.
The Redhawks jumped on the board in the ninth minute, as Kelly Beck(Tacoma, Wash.) raced with the ball down the right side of the field from her normal defensive position. She executed a give-and-go with Kiana Kraft(Kent, Wash.) to get free in the box, and Beck launched a shot past Grand Canyon keeper Blakely Fraasch into the net for her second goal of the season.
Grand Canyon (6-8-2, 3-3-1 WAC) maintained its offensive pressure throughout the half, and it finally paid off as the clock ran down into the final minute, starting when Martine Gjennestad sent a crossing pass towards Milla Benedetti into the box. Benedetti’s shot hit the hands of Redhawk goalie Brianna Smallidge (Port Orchard, Wash.), but she could not maintain control, and the ball dribbled over the goal line to tie the match with 54 seconds remaining before halftime. It was the first goal allowed by Seattle U in 541 minutes and 35 seconds of game action, since the 63rd minute of the Sept. 26 game at Utah Valley.
WAC Women’s Soccer Standings through October 18, 2015
The Redhawks started the second half by ratcheting up their own offensive game, with Jennifer Plummer (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) finding Julia Moravec (Spokane, Wash.) on a crossing pass in the 49th minute, with Moravec converting from close range for her sixth goal of the season. Nine minutes later, while the Antelopes were arguing a non-call with the referee, the Redhawks went on the counterattack, and Karli White (North Bend, Wash.) eluded Fraasch and sent a pass to Moravec, who took advantage of the wide-open net for her second goal of the match.
In the 65th minute, Jessica Valadez sent a long pass into the box, where Cassie Beckwith corralled it and lifted a shot over Smallidge’s head into the net to cut the Antelope deficit in half. Grand Canyon seemingly tied the game in the 85th minute when Beckwith again beat Smallidge with a shot, but a foul was called on Beckwith for a push in the back of one of the Redhawk defenders, and Seattle U was able to hold on to remain unbeaten within the conference.
“I think holding on in a grinder like today’s game is an important quality that we need to have,” Seattle U head coach Julie Woodward said. “The ability for someone like Julia to have an average first half before turning things around and scoring twice in the second half was great. I also thought Jenny (Plummer) had a really great day for us in terms of executing the game plan.”
The Antelopes earned more shots than the Redhawks, 15-14, led by Beckwith and Benedetti with three shots apiece, while Moravec led Seattle U with four total shots. Smallidge earned two saves as she picked up the victory, while Fraasch took the loss despite making five saves in the contest.
Seattle University (10-2-3, 5-0-2 WAC) will face the same two teams it saw this weekend on the road next weekend, taking on CSU Bakersfield next Friday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m., and Grand Canyon next Sunday, Oct. 25, at 12 noon. The Redhawks will then welcome Utah Valley to Championship Field on Halloween for a Senior Night contest starting at 7 p.m., the last regular season match before both teams head to Bakersfield, Calif., for the WAC Women’s Soccer Tournament Nov. 5-8.
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