The Falcon   |   Volume 81, Issue 26

Published 6/02/10   |   Log In

Falcons fall in first round of NCAA Tournament

SPU loses late in penalty kicks; future looks bright

By DAVID TRISTANO, Sports Editor

Published: November 18, 2009

The Falcons hopes of repeating as Division II National Champions came to an end last Thursday in La Jolla, Calif.

"We had high expectations," said senior forward Jocelyn Charette. "I felt we were good enough to go to nationals, I was counting on that."

Number three seed Seattle Pacific Falcons (16-3-2 overall, 9-2-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference) fell to number six seed Chico State Wildcats (8-5-9 overall) in penalty kicks (4-3) during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"I thought we would win no matter what," head coach Chuck Sekyra said. "If we didn't win in regulation, we would win in overtime. (I) had total confidence."

After 110 minutes of play, no team scored. Penalty kicks ensued.

SPU won the coin toss and chose to kick first in the five-round shootout.

Charette started things off by scoring the opening shot. Wildcat freshman Sadi' Stouder answered with a goal of her own.

Sophomore forward Brandi Hamre shot next for SPU, but missed it wide right. Sophomore Blake Lopes converted her shot, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage.

On the Falcons third shot of the penalty kicks, freshman forward Megan Lindsay nailed a shot into the back of the net. Dickinson prevented the go-ahead score with a diving stop to her left.

Senior midfielder Janae Godoy and Chico State freshman Christine Kearney both converted their shots, evening the score at 3-3 in the fourth round.

In the fifth and deciding round, SPU freshman Taylor Sawyer's shot sailed above the crossbar, setting up sophomore Molly Downtain's final shot. Downtain sent the ball into the far left side of the goal for the win.

SPU outshot Chico State 8-3 in the first half. The Falcons only shot on goal came when Brandi Hamre kicked a 20-yarder that forced Wildcat goalkeeper Natalie Bensky to fall on the ball right in the center of the goal for the save. Junior goalkeeper Maddie Dickinson was not required to make a save all game.

In the second half, Chico State outshot the Falcons, but both teams failed to get quality shots on goal.

The best opportunity the Falcons had to score came in both overtimes. In the first overtime, Lindsay nailed a 25-yard shot toward the top of the goal, only to have Bensky tip the ball over the crossbar.

During the second overtime, Charette hit the ball hard, but Chico State defender Sarah Steele stopped it at the goal line.

"We felt confident the whole game that we could beat them," freshman defender Taylor Lundquist said. "At the same time, you always know whoever you play that they can score and they can beat you. You have to be able to not give them shots off and to prevent them from getting strong momentum during the game."

The Falcons have not lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2003.

Next season the Falcons will have to do without Charette, who was named GNAC Player of the Year last week and Godoy, team captain.

"I don't really think about awards. It's cool to be acknowledged, I definitely have been working hard. It just doesn't really matter to me," Charette said. "I look to the team. I think it's a bigger accomplishment that we regained GNAC title, because we didn't get it last year."

The Falcons will lose four seniors to graduation but will return with 15 freshman and sophomores.

For the returning players, the offseason is just as important as the regular season.

"It gives me more of a purpose to do all the running and focus in the little things during practice," Lundquist said. "We'd like to go on further. I know we are capable of doing that."

Coach Sekyra, who was presented with his fifth GNAC Coach of the Year award last week, also believes the future of SPU womens' soccer is bright.

"Future is great," Sekyra said. "(We) return a lot of talent. We need to work hard. I believe in this group. I hope this team comes back with an edge to them."

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