Saturday, November 8, 2014

TUKWILA, Wash. -  For the second year in a row, it took a shootout to decide the winner of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championships.

Same result, but perhaps  a little more drama this time.

Third-seed Seattle Pacific claimed the title for the second year in a row, winning the shootout 5-4 after the Falcons and regular-season champion Western Washington battled to a 1-1 standoff.

“It would have nice to get it done in regulation, but obviously we have a knack for the dramatic and got it done in PK’s," SPU head coach Chuck Sekrya said. "I’ll take it. Any way we can get into the NCAA tournament."

Last year the teams also tied 1-1 and SPU took the shootout 4-1.

The shootout win earns Seattle Pacific an automatic berth in next week's NCAA West Regionals for the 12th year in a row.  Western Washington was the season-long No. 1 ranked team in the region and will likely be one of the six participating teams.

“It feels so awesome," championship MVP Isabel Farrell said. "Western is obviously a very, very good team and we give them a lot of respect. They always give us a great game…We’re all super excited and look forward to making a run (in the NCAA tournament).”

The regional begins Thursday. The qualifying teams and sites will be announced by the NCAA with a web cast on www.ncaa.com Monday at 4 p.m. Pacific time.

The game was tied at halftime as Ali Martin gave the Falcons the early lead with a goal in the 12th minute, netting a scramble for the ball in front of the net. WWU's Elise Aylward got the equalizer on a set piece four minutes before the end of the opening half.

Before her goal, Aylward almost tied the game in the 12th minute when she took a seemingly undefended shot from the right side of the box, but SPU goalkeeper Molly Stinson made the block coming 10 yards out of the net.

Through both halves, each team had their scoring chances. Seattle Pacific totaled nine shots with five on goal while Western Washington had 15 shots placing seven on goal. 

After the second goal, there was no scoring until the penalty kicks 70 minutes later.

In the shootout, both teams made their first four attempts before goalkeeper Alexa Hughes, who subbed in for Molly Stinson for the penalty kicks, stopped the Vikings' fifth shot.

Shayla Page had the opportunity to end it and that is exactly what she did leading to a huge celebration on the SPU side.

SPU was perfect in the shootout as Ali Martin, Arden Matro, Brooke Pingrey, Heather Young and Page found the back of the net.

“We spent a lot of time on penalty kicks," Sekyra said. "If you have a chance to win a game in that situation, there’s going to be some sides to it and you have to get it right. Each kid out there probably took 10 PK’s this week, so they had a feel for it."

Officially the game will go into the record book as a tie.  SPU will take a 12-4-3 record into the regional, while the Vikings remained unbeaten in 20 contests (16-0-4).