SEATTLE (Nov. 5) - Megan Lienhard's goal 12 minutes into sudden death overtime lifted Seattle Pacific University to a 2-1 victory over Seattle University, clinching the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship for the Falcons in just their second year of existence, Tuesday afternoon at Championship Field.

Lienhard (Fr., Everett, Wa./Cascade), who scored both SPU goals, took a left wing pass from Shannon Lovejoy (Fr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep) and struck a 12-yard shot inside the left post at 101:56. It was her ninth goal of the year.

Seattle Pacific finished the regular season by winning its final nine games and going unbeaten (10-0-1) in 11. It's last loss was to Seattle U., 2-1, on Sept. 25. The Falcons finished 9-3-0 in GNAC games and 13-4-2 overall. They have a remote chance of making the NCAA Division II tournament, which begins next week.

The Redhawks (7-4-1/11-7-1) would have earned a co-championship with Western Oregon with a victory. SPU, which had been winless in three previous meetings with their crosstown rivals, needed a tie for a share of the title.

Lienhard had staked her team to a lead early in the second half, finding the net from 8 yards following a cross from LeRin Farrison (Sr., Seattle/Mountain View) and a header across the goalmouth by Katy Nydam (Fr., Oak Harbor, Wa.).

Seattle U. was thwarted by the crossbar, a reaction save by Erin Pierce and then a lunging kick-save on the goal line by defender Katie Lim, but the Redhawks still managed to tie the game at 1-1 on Jordan Bielers's header in the 79th minute. That snapped a string of 398 scoreless minutes over five games.

In the first overtime period, Lovejoy was stopped on the goal line by SU goalie Emily Schifferling and shortly thereafter a long-range shot by Farrison caromed off the crossbar. SPU was out-shot 22-12 but Pierce made five saves and Jennifer Hull, who played the scoreless first half, had two.

Scoring-
1, SPU, Lienhard (Farrison, Nydam) 53:18;
2, SU, Bieler (Martinello) 78:52;
3, SPU, Lienhard (Lovejoy) 101:56.

Shots-SPU 12, SU 22.

Saves-SPU (Hull 2/Pierce 5) 7, SU (Schifferling) 3.

Corner kicks-SPU 2, SU 2.

Fouls-SPU 18, SU 16.

Offside-SPU 1, SU 0.

Cautions-none.