BURNABY, B.C. -- Simon Fraser lost 2-0 at 25th-ranked Seattle Pacific, Thursday, in a Great Northwest Athletic conference women's soccer contest.
The host Falcons (7-1-0, 4-1-0 GNAC) scored once in each half to earn the win, and stop the SFU (2-5-1, 3-2 GNAC) winning streak at two games. SFU's conference record includes a forfeit by Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) that is not counted in the team's overall mark.
Chloe Gellhaus opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Claire Neder dribbled the ball from just over midfield to the SFU goal line before passing it back into the six-yard box. Gellhaus one-timed the ball inside the right post.
The Falcons' goal came on a counterattack. SFU's
Kiara Buono was inside the opposing penalty area and sent a shot that curled wide of the net.
Raegan Mackenzie also just missed connecting with the ball at the end of the play in front the net. SPU then took the loose ball up the field for the goal.
Just five minutes after the opening tally,
Jenieva Musico forced SPU goalkeeper Riley Travis to dive left and make a save, with a low shot from outside the area.
Kelsey Fisher
Simon Fraser goalkeeper
Kelsey Fisher came up big on SPU's first shot of the second half. Neder was in on a partial break and fired a shot from the top of the box. Fisher came out to cut down the angle and stopped Neder's attempt to keep SFU within a goal.
The home side put the game away with a 79th-minute insurance marker. Lauren Forster got to end of a long through ball and battled to gain control in the penalty area. She passed the ball into the six-yard box to Jacqueline Blakeley, who converted the tap-in.
The Falcons finished the game with 17 shots to SFU's seven, and had a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.
Fisher made six saves for SFU, while Mackenzie led the team offensively with two shots, both on target.
The team will now head east for a Saturday game at Montana State-Billings (4-4-2, 1-3-1 GNAC). Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. local time / 10 a.m. PT.
Follow women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram at @SFUWSoc. Fans can also keep up with all of SFU Athletics on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at @SFU_Athletics.
--@SFU_Athletics--
