Tuesday, October 7, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Seattle Pacific men’s soccer team scored six goals in two matches last week, extending its win streak to seven matches while earning the @RedLionHotels GNAC Team of the Week award.

The Falcons got off to a fast start on Thursday with a goal apiece from Stephen MacDonald and Chaz Jenkins for a 2-1 halftime lead over Western Washington. GNAC offensive Player of the Week Bryson Pavel added another goal in the second half to finish off the Vikings 3-1.

On Saturday, the Falcons struck first again against Simon Fraser with a header in the 16th minute by Danny Olivas before the Clan tied it up two minutes later. Davis Karaica scored what proved to be the game winner in the 27th minute and SPU scoring leader Jordan Thompson added an insurance goal late in the first half as the Falcons held on for a 3-1 win.

The six goals in two matches come after a seven-goal performance last week where the Falcons beat Mary and South Dakota Mines a combined 7-1.

“The movement of our midfield and our spacing has been good,” head men’s soccer coach Mark Collings said of the offense. “We’ve been paying more attention to the details and have been fortunate to put balls away.”

It’s not just one or two players that are carrying the offensive load either as the 13 goals scored the past two weeks have come from nine different Falcons.

SPU, one of two undefeated teams left in the GNAC, lead the conference in goals with 15, while also tying for tops in the conference in goals-allowed per game with 0.60.

The Falcon defense has allowed only three goals to conference opponents this year while giving up a total of four all season. Pavel and Karaica, along with fellow defenders Jeffrey Collings and Evan Robicheau, helped hold Western Washington and Simon Fraser to five total shots-on-goal while goalie Cody Lang ranks third in the nation in save percentage (.889).

“The defense has been strong all year. It was carrying us the first part of the season,” Collings said. “This defense has been by committee. It’s not only the back line, the midfielders are heavily involved too. The guys do a good job of limiting shots-on-goal and that every ball is contested.” 

SPU currently stands at 5-0 in the conference and has an overall record of 8-0-1, which is tied for the best start in school history with the 1987 Falcons.

Seattle Pacific heads into this week facing Montana State Billings on Thursday before squaring off with fellow unbeaten and conference co-leader Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. Both matches will be played in Seattle.