Lovejoy's OT Header Lifts 10th-Ranked SPU to GNAC Women's Soccer Title
November 8, 2003

SEATTLE, Wa. (Oct. 8)—Shannon Lovejoy’s header in the first period of overtime lifted the 10th-ranked Seattle Pacific University women’s soccer team to its second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference title 2-1 OT, over Seattle University Saturday afternoon at Championship Field.

The victory pushed the Falcons (11-0-1/17-1-2) to a school record unbeaten streak of 17 games. Seattle Pacific has won its last ten matches in a row and has not lost a conference game in its last19 tries.

“We worked so hard during the summer and showed up every single game of this season to play and that’s why we’re 17-1-2” said SPU Head Coach Chuck Sekyra. It feels great to be champs.”

Lovejoy’s strike off a Jessica Henson (Jr., Spokane, Wa./University) corner kick, ended the match at 95:35. Henson lofted the ball from the left corner to the six-yard line where Lovejoy beat several defenders and SU keeper Kelly Stewart to the low right corner of the net. Lovejoy has 16 scores on the season, a school record, and has struck net in each of the last seven games.

Senior sweeper Nicole Ruiz (Federal Way, Wa./Federal Way-Barry) opened up scoring in the match at 29:03 on a free kick from 45-yards out on the left side. The Redhawks answered at 61:50 when Andrea Gutierrez took a through-ball from Jordan Bieler and put it to the right post.

The match was played evenly throughout. SU out shot the Falcons 13-8, but SPU earned nine corner kicks to the Redhawks’ 5.

“Talk about heart and effort, Seattle U really played us out,” said Sekyra. Honestly, the toughest two games we have played this year were the two against the Redhawks.”

Seattle University ended Falcon keeper Jennifer Hull’s (Jr., Eugene, Or./Sheldon) conference scoreless streak in the match. The junior goalie allowed just one goal during conference play and ranks among national leaders in goals-against average and shutouts (12). Hull and Stewart, made one save each in the match.

The Falcons await the NCAA Tournament Pairings to be announced on Monday (Nov. 10). SPU is expected to be among four teams from the Far West Region earning playoff bids at a site to be announced with games beginning Thursday, Nov. 13. No Northwest team has reached the NCAA playoffs previously.

GOALS:
1) SPU, Ruiz (unassisted) 29:03;
2) SU, Gutierrez (Bieler) 61:50;
3) SPU Lovejoy (Henson) 95:35.

SHOTS: SU 13, SPU 8.

CORNER KICKS: SPU 9, SU 5.

SAVES: SPU (Hull 1), SU (Stewart 1).

FOULS: SU 9, SPU 14.