SAN ANTONIO (Oct. 18) -- James Ward came out of the goal in the final 26 minutes to set-up two scores and get the game-winner himself in the 86th minute as Seattle Pacific University rallied to beat Saint Edwards 3-2 in the first round of the Crusader Classic Thursday night.

David Smith (Fr., Corvallis, Or.) scored two goals in his first start of the season and the Falcons (9-6-0) remained in contention for an NCAA Division II men's soccer playoff berth with the win.

Ward (Fr., Salem, Or./Sprague) started at goalkeeper but was shifted up front by Coach Cliff McCrath shortly after Saint Edwards went ahead 2-0. He assisted on both of Smith's goals as Seattle Pacific equalized at 2-2, and then ran onto Matt Laughlin's (So., Selah, Wa.) long upfield ball and scored the decisive goal from 10 yards with 3 minutes, 41 seconds remaining.

"Jimmy's a great goalie and probably one of our better forwards," said McCrath. "We've tried this before and have come close, but this time it was magic."

It was Ward's first goal. Adrian Cravalho (Jr., Mililani, Hi) made one save after replacing him at goalie.

Smith notched his fourth and fifth goals of the year within a span of just 1:38. He converted a rebound of Bob Schefter's (Sr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley) shot at 77:33 and then hit a 6-yard blast off the post and Hilltoppers goalie Sean Campbell and into the net at 79:11.

Saint Edwards (3-13-1) got breakaway goals from Chris Steele and Shane Clark, both assisted by Brian Snowden.

SPU will face tournament host Incarnate Word Saturday night in its final road game of the regular season.

Scoring--
1, SED, Steele (Snowden) 33:47;
2, SED, Clark (Snowden) 79:11;
3, SPU, Smith (B. Schefter, Ward) 77:33;
4, SPU, Smith (Egbert, Ward) 79:11;
5, SPU, Ward (Laughlin) 85:19.

Shots--SPU 23, SED 7.

Saves--SPU (Ward 1/Cravalho 1) 2, SED (Campbell) 8.

Corner kicks--SPU 7, SED 2. Fouls--SPU 19, SED 32.

Offiside--SPU 5, SED 4.

Cautions--Crumrine, SED, 80:00.