Seattle Pacific University Advances to NCAA DII Men’s Soccer Far West Region Finals With 2-0 Win Over Sonoma State
Falcons set up showdown vs. host CSUDH on Monday at 1:00 p.m.
November 12, 2005

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Colin Rigby scored the game’s first goal at the 30:10 mark while Jeff Hallenbeck notched an insurance goal at 82:31 as the Far West Region’s No. 2 seed Seattle Pacific blanked the No. 3 seed Sonoma State on Saturday afternoon at Toro Stadium.

Jeff Hallenbeck scores an insurance goal in the 82nd minute to give Seattle Pacific a 2-0 victory over Sonoma State in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. The Falcons will face top-seed and host Cal State Dominguez Hills on Monday at 1 PM. Photo courtesy Michael Foo

With the win, Seattle Pacific (15-2-3) now faces host and top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills (16-4-2) on Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. With the loss, the Seawolves finish their 2005 campaign at 12-9-2.

The game was scoreless until the 30:10 mark when SPU’s James Coggan delivered a cross right to the head of Rigby, who flicked his shot near post past SSU goalkeep Clark Rupp for a Falcon 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 until late in the second half when SPU’s Nick Letts dribbled around and through three Seawolf defenders deep in the SSU zone, and delivered a pass in front of the goal to Hallenbeck, who connected for the insurance goal.

SPU’s Kellen Rosten and SSU’s Rupp each made seven saves, while the Falcons’ netted eight corners to the Seawolves’ four. Sonoma State was whistled for 16 fouls compared to eight against Seattle Pacific, while the Seawolves enjoyed an 18-14 shot advantage, including 11-7 in the second half.

“I though we played very well in the first half,” said SPU head coach Cliff McCrath. “We started to unravel a bit in the 2nd half, but you’ve got to hand it to Sonoma. They were a different team than when we played them earlier, very organized and very dangerous.”

The Falcons advance to the Far West Regional Finals against Cal State Dominguez Hills in a rematch of a September 10 game in which the Toros took a 2-1 decision in Toro Stadium.

On the rematch, McCrath notes, “We don’t need to think when it comes to Dominguez Hills. We have a long history and we know them. In playoff soccer, every game is a new mountain, and as CSUDH is the top seed, this is the highest mountain in the West.”

Scoring - 1, SPU, Rigby (J.Coggan), 30:10

2, SPU, Hallenbeck, (Letts), 82:31

Shots - SSU 18, SPU 14

Saves - SSU Rupp 7, SPU Rosten 7

Corner kicks--SSU 4, SPU 8

Fouls - SSU 16, SPU 8

Cautions--SSU #12 Medina

A—144