ARCATA, Calif. (Sept. 11) -- Nick Letts and Jeremy Yerkes scored four minutes apart in the first half to lift Seattle Pacific University to a 2-0 win over Humboldt State in the Falcons' Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener Thursday. James Ward (Jr., Salem, Or.) made four saves to earn his first shutout of the season and halt a four-game losing streak. The game marked the end of a five-game, 18-day road trip.

Letts (So., Dublin, Ca.) ended a team scoreless streak of 269 minutes for SPU in the 27th minute, intercepting a ball at the back and dribbling around Lumberjacks keeper Barret Schwerin to find an open net.

Yerkes (Jr., Gresham, Or.) converted a penalty kick in the 31st minute for his second goal of the season. The Falcons (1-0-0/1-4-0) finished with a 10-6 advantage in shots.

Humboldt State (0-2-0/2-5-0) has yet to score on Seattle Pacific in eight meetings.

With the victory, Cliff McCrath is now two wins from tying the career record for coaching victories. McCrath now has 542 and retired San Francisco coach Steve Negoesco won 544. Wheaton's Joe Bean is the active leader with 543.

Seattle Pacific resumes play next Wednesday at Simon Fraser.

Scoring--
1, SPU, Letts (unassisted) 27:00;
2, SPU, Yerkes (penalty kick) 31:00.

Shots--SPU 10, HSU 6.

Saves--SPU (Ward) 5, HSU (Schwerin) 5.

Corner kicks--SPU 4, HSU 3.

Fouls--SPU 11, HSU 13.

Offside--SPU 3, HSU 0.

Cautions--Selby, SPU, 55:00; Hirsch, SPU, 75:00; Dixon, HSU, 58:00; HSU bench, 73:00; Valado, HSU, 90:00.