SEATTLE (Sept. 16) - Grant Falco scored twice as Seattle Pacific University, despite playing shorthanded for the majority of the game, defeated Notre Dame de Namur 3-1 in its men's soccer home opener at Interbay Stadium Monday afternoon.

Jeremy Yerkes put the Falcons (4-2-0) ahead to stay in the 31st minute and Falco's second goal, with just under three minutes to go, sealed the result.

Yerkes (So., Gresham, Or.) connected on a 20-yard free kick which deflected off the end of the four-man wall and into the middle of the net at 30:53. It was his third goal of the year.

With the Argonauts (3-4-1) pressing for the tying goal in the final minutes, Falco (Sr., Veradale, Wa.) finished a counterattack into an open net. Cory Janzen (Sr., Langley, BC) hit the crossbar from 18 yards, leaving Falco alone for the follow-up from 4 yards. Falco has scored 16 of his 23 career goals at home.

With 37 minutes left, Yerkes had nearly scored his second goal. Falco found him alone on the left but backup NDNU keeper David Montgomery saved his first shot and Yerkes kicked wide left on the rebound.

Jan Hejret had two strong scoring chances in the second half for Notre Dame de Namur. In the 47th minute he shot wide right from 20 yards and, later, forced a save from SPU goalie James Ward at the right post from 14 yards.

Falco gave SPU a 1-0 lead when he converted a rebound after his initial breakaway shot was parried by Argonauts starting goalie Mike Whittaker in the 20th minute. Whittaker was injured on the play and replaced by Montgomery.

Just under two minutes later, the visitors equalized. A foul by SPU defender David Selby resulted in both his ejection and a penalty kick, which Jason Silvius of NDNU scored at 21:03.

The Falcons played the final 69 minutes with 10 men but finished with an equal number of shots (10-10). It was the second consecutive game that a Falcon was red-carded; defender Mike Pardini missed Monday's game after being ejected at UC Davis Saturday. A total of five yllow cards were issued, including four to Notre Dame de Namur.

Seattle Pacific visits Simon Fraser Wednesday night at 7.

Scoring-
1, SPU, G. Falco (unassisted) 19:08;
2, NDNU, Silvius (penalty kick) 21:03;
3, SPU, Yerkes (unassisted) 30:53;
4, SPU, G. Falco (Janzen, Brkich) 87:04.

Shots-NDNU 10, SPU 10.

Saves-NDNU (Whittaker 0/Montgomery 2) 2, SPU (Ward) 4.

Corner kicks-NDNU 4, SPU 2. Fouls-NDNU 14, SPU 15.

Offside-NDNU 0, SPU 3.

Cautions-Putrus, NDNU, 2:55; Yerkes, SPU, 43:29; Michon, NDNU, 49:13; Marinic, NDNU, 59:46; Meherg, NDNU, 89:38.

Ejections-Selby, SPU, 21:03.