Sanders Hits Net as Falcons Win Women's Soccer Home Opener
September 6, 2003

SEATTLE, Wa. (Sept. 6)-Michelle Sanders trapped and scored a pass from teammate Heidi Jacobsen with just under seven minutes to play in regulation to lead Seattle Pacific University over Sonoma State 1-0, in a women's soccer match Saturday afternoon at Interbay Stadium.

The match is the Falcons (3-1-0) first win at home under new coach Chuck Sekyra who took over the program last spring. The victory extends Seattle Pacific's home win-streak to seven games dating back to 2002 when it won its final six contests.

Sanders (Jr., Centralia, Wa.) was the eventual beneficiary of a Megan Lienhard cross from the right corner of the field. Lienhard (So., Everett, Wa./Cascade) lofted the ball toward the left post where it found the head of Shannon Lovejoy (So., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep.). The sophomore midfielder headed the ball to Jacobson's feet and Jacobsen (So., Kirkland, Wa./Cedar Park Christian/Gonzaga) slipped a pass between two Sonoma defenders to Sanders for the score from six yards out (83:06).

The Falcons out-shot the Seawolves 8-6, but Sonoma (1-2-0) earned nine corner kicks to Seattle Pacific's one.

SPU narrowly escaped a Sonoma free-kick late in the second half from the foot of Crystal Howard. The opposing forward's shot from the thirty yard line was on target for the right upper corner of the net when Falcon keeper Jennifer Hull (Jr., Eugene, Or./Pendleton) made a diving save. Hull made five saves en route to her third shut-out of the season.

Seattle Pacific is amidst its longest home stand of the year and faces Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Western Oregon Thursday night (Sept. 11) and Northwest Nazarene Saturday (Sept. 13). Kickoff for both games is scheduled for 7PM.

Scoring:
1) SPU, Sanders (Jacobson, Lovejoy).

Shots: SPU 8, SSU 6.

Saves: SPU (Hull) 5, SSU (Campbell) 4.

Fouls: SPU 4, SSU 12.

Offside: SPU 2, SSU 3.

Cautions: none.