Power showdown in women's soccer: SPU and Western tie

It became more apparent who stands in the way of the dominance of Seattle Pacific University women's soccer.

Enter Western Washington University, last year's Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) champions.

Sixth-ranked SPU, the defending NCAA Division II national champions, missed a chance to gain the upper hand in the race for the GNAC title, settling for a 1-1 tie in overtime against Western on Wednesday night at Interbay Stadium.

Unfortunately, the Falcons will remember this one more for unfinished business after a loss to WWU earlier this season.

"I think they give us our biggest challenge," said SPU sophomore Brandi Hamre. "They definitely give us a run for our money and that helps us for competition in the tournament."

Hamre and the Falcons (7-1-1 GNAC, 14-2-1 overall) struck in the seventh minute on a 28-yard, left-footed shot that sneaked into the left corner of the net. Hamre's well-placed shot, on an assist from Jocelyn Charette, fooled Western goalkeeper Kylie Broadbent.

It was Hamre's third goal of the season and Charette's fifth assist of the campaign.

The tie extended Seattle Pacific's home unbeaten streak at Interbay to 42 matches, but the Falcons couldn't beat their biggest GNAC nemesis.

"A tie pretty much felt like a loss," Hamre said.

Seattle Pacific had its best chance in the 105th minute — five minutes before the end of OT — on Janie Wurth's knuckling 23-yard left-footed shot. But Broadbent made a diving, smothering save at the right post.

"With a 1-0 edge, you have to put that game away," SPU coach Chuck Sekyra said. "And then the keeper makes that great save. Got to pat her on the back. That's one of the better saves I've seen in a college soccer game.

"A ball bouncing like that should go in. ... How does a wrist keep the ball out of there?"

SPU is 36-3-3 during its successful two-year run, outscoring opponents 107-16. But against Western (7-1-2 GNAC, 10-4-3) during that span, the Falcons are only 1-2-2 and have been outscored 6-5 by the Vikings.

Western's Lucy Miller poked in a goal in the 65th minute of a cross along the end line from Kelly Irving to knot the score at 1-1.

Miller had subbed back into the game just 21 seconds before her goal.