SEATTLE, Wash. – After holding Seattle Pacific to just a goal through the first half and tying the game late in the second half, it looked like the Western Oregon University women's soccer team was set to take #4 Seattle Pacific to overtime for the second time this season. Then over the final six-plus minutes, the Falcons tallied two goals to hold off the Wolves 3-1 Saturday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action at Interbay Stadium.
Seattle Pacific (13-1-1, 10-1-1 GNAC) brought the pressure throughout the game, but especially in the second half where they held a 26-1 shot advantage. Overall for the game, the Falcons tallied 37 shots with 13 landing on target. WOU (5-9-2, 4-6-2 GNAC) fired four shots, with two landing on goal.
Olivia Holdenried put together an impressive game in goal as she tallied 10 saves playing all 90 minutes. It was just the freshman's second start of her collegiate career, having also started the 2-1 home win over Saint Martin's.
Alyssa Talkington netted her third goal of the season and for the game took two total shots with both landing on target. Chloe Smith and Briana Kubli also added shots for the Wolves. In addition to Holdenried playing all 90 minutes, Jenna Efraimson, Liz Parker, Piper Matson, Hannah Rispler, Erika Gonzalez Moreno and Smith played the entire game. Kubli played 74 minutes off the bench.
WOU had a chance just over four minutes in when Talkington's shot was saved by Riley Travis. After that, Holdenried was forced to make a save and after a few more chances missed, Chloe Gellhaus picked up the first goal of the game in the 20th minute for the 1-0 lead.
Holdenried came up big in the 21st minute when she saved a penalty kick shot to keep the game at 1-0.
Over the remainder of the half, Holdenried came up with a few more saves to keep it a 1-0 lead for SPU through the first 45 minutes.
Holdenried made a pair of big saves around the 54-55-minute mark turning away a couple of chances to still keep the difference at one.
After Holdenried made a couple more saves, the Wolves were able to even the score. Just into the 81st minute, Talkington took a pass from Gonzalez Moreno and tucked the shot past Travis to tie the game at one.
SPU responded, getting a chance just a few minutes later and after hitting the post, Abbie Anderson scored in the 84th minute to push the Falcons back in front 2-1.
WOU wasn't able to generate a shot over the final minutes and a goal by Claire Neder in the 88th minute provided the final margin of 3-1.
Sophia Chilczuk and Makena Rietz led SPU with six shots apiece. Gellhaus and Neder added five shots. Travis played all 90 minutes in goal and made one save.
With other results from around the GNAC, the race for the last spot in the GNAC Championships continues to tighten. With wins by both Seattle Pacific and Western Washington, SPU leads the way with 31 points and the Vikings are second with 27 points. Both teams have clinched tournament spots. Northwest Nazarene, currently sitting in third, clinched a spot after they tied with Simon Fraser. The Nighthawks have 23 points. With the tie, Simon Fraser remains in fourth with 16 points. Montana State Billings defeated Saint Martin's and has pulled even with Western Oregon in fifth as both teams have 14 points and are just two back of SFU for the final spot. There are only two matches left in the regular season to decide who will secure the fourth and final spot.
WOU returns home this coming Thursday for Senior Day against Western Washington starting at 2 p.m. at the WOU Soccer Field. The Wolves will then turn around and travel to Canada to play at Simon Fraser on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.
