SEATTLE (Nov. 5) – With Jeremy Yerkes scoring twice, including an early penalty kick, and goalie James Ward saving one later, Seattle Pacific University wrapped up second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 3-0 men’s soccer win over Western Washington at Interbay Stadium Wednesday night.

The Falcons (3-2-1/8-8-2) also got a first-half goal from Andy Willis for their first win in three games. The Vikings lost for the third time in four games and finish the year at 2-3-1 in the GNAC and 8-8-2 overall.

Yerkes (Jr., Gresham, Or.) opened the scoring just 3 minutes, 35 seconds after the opening kickoff. Tripped on a run into the top of the box, he converted the subsequent penalty kick into the right corner.

Willis (Fr., Gig Harbor, Wa.) made it 2-0 in the 39th minute. He ran onto a through ball from Ross Vaillancourt (So., Bedford, NH) on the right wing, then angled into the box and beat WWU goalie Ben Dragavon from 14 yards.

Yerkes notched his eighth goal of the season with less the two minutes remaining, tapping in a pass by Willis from 6 yards with Dragavon out of the net. Yerkes has scored five goals and had two assists in the last four games.

It was only the fourth three-goal game of the year for Seattle Pacific. Ward (Jr., Salem, Or.) made five saves to earn his fifth shutout.

Western’s best opportunity of the first half went for naught when Ward, diving to his left, saved a penalty kick by Jeff Lane in the 43rd minute. Kris Pope was taken down on the preceding play.

The Vikings’ David Schlesinger had tested Ward from 15 yards in the 20th minute, with the SPU keeper able to push the ball over the bar. Willis broke through at the other end moments later, cracking a shot off the right post. Dragavon pounced on the rebound.

SPU hosts 21st-ranked UC Davis in the final game of the season Friday night at 7.

Scoring
1, SPU, Yerkes (penalty kick) 3:35;
2, SPU, Willis (Vaillancourt) 38:36;
3, SPU, Yerkes (Willis) 88:04.

Shots—WWU 10, SPU 10.

Saves—WWU (Dragavon) 0, SPU (Ward) 5.

Corner kicks—WWU 1, SPU 4.

Fouls—WWU 11, SPU 16.

Cautions--none.