Box Score

SEATTLE, Wa. (Aug. 27)—Five different Falcons scored goals as 9th-ranked Seattle Pacific University opened season by downing Chico State 5-1 in a non-conference women’s soccer game Saturday night at Interbay Stadium.

Heidi Jacobson (Sr., Kirkland, Wa.) kicked off scoring at 11:48 when she beat Chico State keeper Kari Gonzales to the far post with a looping ball from 18-yards. The senior forward had broken free from the Wildcat defense to start the play, with a 20-yard run down the right sideline.

Defender Carolyn Nason (Jr., Lafayette, Co.) gave the Falcons a 2-0 advantage heading into the locker room at half, when she bolted unchecked through the penalty area on a Michelle Everson (Sr., Tacoma, Wa.) corner kick. Nason headed Everson’s left-footed loft into the Chico net at 35:47.

The second half went scoreless for nearly 20-minutes, but a nifty play to Megan Lienhard (Sr., Everett, Wa.) from the foot of fellow forward Sarah Martinez (So., Bothell, Wa.) tallied the Falcons a third goal at 65:17. Tricia Loomis (So., Des Moines, Wa.) and Washington State transfer Samantha Hufford (Jr., Sammamish, Wa.) rounded out the scoring on the SPU side, highlighting a high-scoring second half in which Chico’s Jennifer Hogans punched home a penalty kick to get the Wildcats on the board late (80:23).

Martinez garnered her second assist on the evening on Hufford’s strike while teammate Loomis was credited on the play as well. Jessica Gerstmann (So., Puyallup, Wa.) assisted Loomis in shoring up the scoring at 85:28.

Overall, Seattle Pacific out-shot Chico State 10-2, and earned seven corner kicks to the Wildcats’ four. Keeper Jennifer Burns (Fr., Boise, Id.) was forced into just one save in her college debut. Gonzales batted off three balls.

Chico State extended SPU to penalty kicks during the opening round of NCAA play last November at Interbay. The victory boosts the Falcons’ regular season unbeaten-streak to 38 games (35-0-3).

Seattle Pacific continues its season-opening home stand with a Tuesday night meeting with Biola. Kickoff is scheduled for 7PM.

SCORING: 1) SPU, Jacobson (unassisted) 11:48; 2) SPU, Nason (Everson) 35:47; 3) SPU Lienhard (Martinez) 65:18; 4) SPU, Hufford (Loomis, Martinez) 74:48; 5) CHICO, Hogans (penalty kick) 80:23; 6) SPU, Loomis (Gerstmann) 85:28.

SHOTS: SPU 10, CHICO 2.

SAVES: CHICO (Gonzales 3); SPU (Burns 1, Ruggles).

C. KICKS: SPU 7, CHICO 4.

FOULS: CHICO 8, SPU 5.