BURNABY, B.C. – The Simon Fraser Red Leafs lost 6-2 to the Seattle Pacific Falcons in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game contested on Monday afternoon at Interbay Stadium. It was postponed from Saturday because of air quality issues.
 
Midfielders Kiara Buono and Kate Cartier got the SFU (3-5-5, 2-4-3 GNAC) goals.
 
SPU went ahead with a fifth-minute score before Buono – a junior – replied in the 10th. Sophomore Cartier won possession from the host Falcons (8-4-1, 6-3-0 GNAC) near midfield, passed it to junior forward Giuliana Zaurrini, who delivered a beautiful through ball into the middle of the 18-yard box. Buono ran between two defenders on to the end of the pass, controlled the ball, and chipped it over SPU goalkeeper Kaitlynn Knocke. It was her third goal of the season.
 
SPU tallied twice in a nine-minute span after that to take a 3-1 lead into halftime. Jacqueline Blakeley got the Falcons' first two goals of the game.
 
In the 58th minute, the Red Leafs earned a free kick just outside the left edge of the penalty area. Cartier fired a low shot inside the left post for her second goal of 2022 to cut SFU's deficit to 4-2. She led the team with four shots on the day.
 

SPU found the net twice more before the final whistle.
 
Canada's NCAA team outshot the hosts 17-13, including 12-7 in the second half, while the Falcons had the 9-8 edge in shots on goal. The final count in corner kicks was 3-1 in favour of the Red Leafs.
 
SFU is currently tied with Western Oregon for the fourth and final playoff spot in the GNAC standings with nine points. One ahead of Central Washington, and two more than Saint Martin's (Wash.). The Red Leafs beat Western Oregon 2-0 at home on Oct. 6, and the two teams will meet again on the final day of the regular season on Oct. 29 in Monmouth.
 
SFU will host two games at home next week, beginning with a Thursday matchup against Central Washington at 6 p.m. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sfu-womens-soccer-vs-central-washington-university-tickets-359015694607
 
Then on Saturday at 1 p.m., the Red Leafs will face Northwest Nazarene (Idaho), the GNAC's second-place squad. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sfu-womens-soccer-vs-northwest-nazarene-university-tickets-359016025597

For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.
 
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