SEATTLE (Oct. 6) ­ Joe Watson's second-half goal proved to be the game-winner as Seattle University won for the first time in 23 years on Seattle Pacific's home field Saturday night, defeating the Falcons 2-1 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game before a near-capacity crowd at Interbay Stadium.

Watson, who had assisted on the game's first goal, put the Redhawks (1-0-0, 7-3-0) ahead 2-0 in the 54th minute on a 12-yard blast from a difficult angle along the right endline. Seattle U. then withstood a furious SPU (1-1-0, 7-5-0) rally in the final 11 minutes to achieve their first road win in the series since 1978.

Brent Egbert came off the bench to pull Seattle Pacific a goal back in the 80th minute. Egbert (So., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) volleyed home his fourth goal of the year off the crossbar from 12 yards after Erik Skipper (Sr., Hillsboro, Or./Glencoe) headed Grant Falco's corner kick across the goalmouth.

Falco (Jr., Spokane, Wa./University) nearly sent the game to overtime but his 18-yard shot was saved at the near post by Seattle U. keeper Brandon Sewell with 1 minute, 45 seconds left. Falco's assist was his eighth of the year.

The loss was the second straight by the Falcons, who entered the week ranked 22nnd among NCAA Division II teams. The Redhawks are No. 15 in NAIA. The two teams meet again Saturday at Championship Field in a non-conference match.

Watson, who has five goals, set-up Evan McNeley for an early Seattle U. lead. In the fifth minute, McNeley took the ball on the run, shrugged off SPU defender Mike Pardini and beat goalie James Ward (Fr., Saelm, Or./Sprague) from 15 yards to the left post. Ward was moved by Coach Cliff McCrath up to forward for the final 21 minutes of the match.

Seattle Pacific managed only two first-half shots and the Redhawks finished with a 10-8 advantage. Ward made four saves and Sewell two.

SPU goes on the road for the next four games, beginning Monday night with a GNAC game at Western Washington.

Scoring
1, SEA, McNeley (Watson) 4:59;
2, SEA, Watson (Johanson) 53:55;
3, SPU, Egbert (Skipper, G. Falco) 79:14.

Shots--SEA 8, SPU 10.

Saves--SEA (Sewell) 2, SPU (Ward 4/Cravalho 0) 4.

Corner kicks--SEA 4, SPU 2.

Fouls--SEA 25, SPU 15.

Offside--SEA 1, SPU 1.

Cautions--Leinbach, SPU, 33:42; Besagno, SEA, 39:02; B. Schefter, SPU, 60:59; M. Schefter, SPU, 62:29; Thurber, SEA, 67:51.