Thursday, October 27, 2011

For the second straight year, Simon Fraser has won the GNAC men's soccer title.

Matt Besuschko scored the game-winner in the 74th minute Thursday lifting the top-ranked Clan (15-0-0, 8-0-0) to a 2-1 win over Seattle Pacific (11-3-2, 5-2-1) at Interbay Stadium.

In Thursday's only other men's game, Saint Martin's (5-9-2, 4-3-1) defeated Western Washington 2-0.

Besuschko tallied the only second-half goal. He sent a header from the top of the 6-yard box into the left side of the SPU goal off a corner kick from Juan Sanchez. The goal, at 73:39, was the second of the season for Besuschko.

The Clan. which is ineligible for the NCAA playoffs, got on the board first on Carlo Basso's 12th goal of the season. Justin Wallace fed a through pass, freeing Basso in the SPU box with only the goalkeeper to beat. The 10-yard scoring shot slipped inside the left post at 12:53.

SPU, which is the No. 1 ranked team in the official NCAA West Region poll, took advantage of a free kick to net the equalizer.

Richie Evoy served a cross from the left side to the near post. Jon Pearman delivered a hard header into the left side of the goal at 42:22 with his first goal of the season.

Goalkeeper Sheldon Steenhuis stopped four shots for Simon Fraser. His counterpart, Zach Johnson, made three saves for the Falcons who were outshot by a slim 14-13 margin. SFU's first goal ended Johnson's scoreless streak at 590:14.

Saint Martin's got unassisted goals from Austin Kelley in the first half and Dylan Gaydosh in the second half to beat Western Washington (5-9-0, 3-5-0) and snap a four-game series losing streak to the Vikings.

Kelley's goal, which came in the 33rd minute, came from 10 yards after being deflected by the defense and Gaydosh's was from five yards off a rebound in the 83rd minute.

Saint Martin's had a 15-9 advantage in shots in the contest. JJ Olson had three saves in earning the shutout and handing the Vikings their third straight loss. WWU has also lost five of its last six contests.