MEN’S SOCCER 

Seattle Pacific University’s men’s soccer team hit the road this week to take on tough competition as the conference season heats up. On Thursday, October 15th, the Falcons took down the Western Washington Vikings by a score of two to zero.

Both teams fought hard for the first score of the game, but the 0-0 deadlock wasn’t broken until the 60th minute when sophomore Judah Johnston scored his third goal of the season, as Vikings goalie Brandon Locke juggled a header from his own defender. Johnston was there to pounce on the ball and send it into the net. 

Senior forward Alex Mejia also continued his scoring ways in the match, delivering his

12th goal of the season one minute before the final whistle blew. Mejia dribbled around defenders, blasting a left-footed shot into the bottom corner, sealing the victory for the Falcons. 

The seventh ranked Falcons then headed to Canada to face Simon Fraser University two days later, where they did not find the same success. In the 20th minute, Niko Papakyriakopoulos sent a ball across the box to Ali Zohar, who headed the ball past Falcon goalie Lars Helleran. 

For the rest of the game, Helleran kept the Falcons in the contest, making five saves, but the Falcons offense never got going. Simon Fraser outshot SPU 13-7, and Zohar’s goal held up, sending the Falcons seven game win streak crashing down. 

The 10-2 Falcons now have a two week break before taking on Montana State Billings in Montana on Oct. 30. 

WOMEN’S SOCCER 

The Falcons rolled into Ellensburg to take on the Central Washington Wildcats on Oct. 15, and didn’t stop rolling until they arrived back at home that night. Lauren Forster scored two goals, and Sophia Chilczuk, Claire Neder, and AJ DePinto all had one goal and one assist in the 7-0 win. Chloe Gellhaus and Jacqueline Blakeley also had goals, as the Falcons outshot the Wildcats 22-2 on the day.

But like the men’s team, the women also struggled a bit on Saturday, facing off against Montana State Billings. The Falcons had to play from behind, a position they have not seen often this season, as the Yellowjackets’ Liberty Palmer took a pass from Leila Clark and deposited the ball into the back of the goal.  

The Falcons drew even in the 67th minute, as Forster dribbled through the defense and took a shot toward the goal, which directed off a Yellowjackets defender and into the net. 

Though the Falcons outshot the MSUB 24-6, they could not manage another goal and had to settle for a tie. 

A tough matchup awaits the Falcons as they head North to take on the top team in the conference, Western Washington. The contest will be a rematch of the Falcons 1-0 overtime win on Oct. 9. 

VOLLEYBALL:

The Falcons volleyball team played Western Washington close, but could not withstand eleven kills from Gabby Gunterman. Fighting hard, the team came up just short, losing in straight sets 25-22, 27-25, and 25-22. In the match, the Falcons were led by seniors Maddie Batiste, who had 12 kills and 13 digs, and Erin Gould, who had 11 kills and nine digs. 

Heading into Canada and Simon Fraser on Oct. 17, the Falcons again dug themselves into a hole, losing the first two sets 25-23, and 25-16. Seattle Pacific got back in gear, winning the third set 25-21 and setting up a pivotal fourth game, which the Falcons would lose 25-17. Sophomore Hannah Hair led the Falcons with 11 kills, but Simon Fraser’s Brooke Dexter and Camryn Vosloh combined for 31 of their squad’s 58 total kills. 

It doesn’t get any easier for Seattle Pacific, as the 9-7 Falcons put their perfect home record this season on the line against 15-5 University of Alaska Anchorage and 13-8 University of Alaska Fairbanks on Oct. 21 and 23.