Complete Box Score

SEATTLE, Wa. (Aug. 24)—Sarah Martinez scored to the left post off a pass from Janae Godoy to lift No. 2-ranked Seattle Pacific University to a 1-0 victory in its season opener over No. 25 Chico State in a non-conference women’s soccer match Thursday night at Interbay Stadium.

With the victory, the Falcons (1-0) pushed their regular season unbeaten streak to 58 games. The game featured a rematch of last year’s first-round NCAA playoff which Seattle Pacific won on a Martinez strike, 1-0 in overtime.

Martinez (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) touched Godoy’s long cross form the right side (Fr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley) around a Wildcat defender and struck the upper left corner from 12-yards in the 39th minute (38:15) for the game’s only goal. The junior paced Seattle Pacific in scoring in 2005 with 16 goals and 38 overall points.

The Falcons out-shot Chico 18-7, stringing together several scoring opportunities in both halves that missed the goalmouth. Martinez popped a pair of shots over the top of the posts in a two-minute span just before intermission.

At the 53-minute mark, Shannon Oakes (So., Boise, Id.) forced Wildcat keeper Kari Gonzales to a diving save when she ripped a long shot from the center of the circle. Oakes took six shots on the night, most of them from long range.

Kayla Stiegemeier (Fr., Rathdrum, Id./Lakeland) parlayed a ball across the middle of the box in the 56th-minute; Martinez’ one-touch from close range was smothered by Gonzales.

Gonzales registered seven saves in the contest ; Falcon keeper Katie Ruggles (Sr., Eugene, Or./South Eugene) saved three balls in earning the shutout.

Seattle Pacific plays next against Cal State Monterey Bay Saturday afternoon, in a non-conference contest. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:30PM.

Scoring – 1) SPU, Martinez (Godoy) 38:15.

Shots – SPU 18, CHICO 7.

Saves – CHICO (Gonzales 7), SPU (Ruggles 3).

Fouls – CHICO 19, SPU 16.

C. Kicks – SPU 2, CHICO 2.