SEATTLE – The Sonoma State women's soccer team's season came to an end on Saturday afternoon with a hard fought 2-1 loss to No. 1 seed Seattle Pacific. The Seawolves finish the season with a 15-6 record overall.
SSU recorded the first shot of the game in the opening minutes but it was the Falcons who would strike first. In the 24
th minute Chloe Gellhaus headed home a cross from the left side to make it 1-0. The Seawolves registered two shots on goal before the half would end but both were stopped by Riley Travis. Both teams recorded four shots in the first with SPU scoring on their only shot on goal.
The second half featured more offense with 15 total shots, 11 on goal and two goals. Less than five minutes into the period the Falcons made it a two-goal game with another perfect cross. This time Makena Reitz knocked in the shot at the back post on a pass from Sophie Beadle.
The Seawolves next chances came in the 67
th and 72
nd minute but shots from
Malia Falk and
Lexi Zandonella-Arasa were once again stopped by Riley to keep it a 2-0 contest. Two minutes later Zandonella-Arasa changed all that with an outstanding goal from outside the box. First, she took the ball away from the defender, turned towards goal and ripped a left-footed shot from 24 yards out. The ball cleared the leaping goalie and went into the upper right corner for her team leading sixth goal of the season.
Sonoma State put the pressure on for the final 15 minutes but could not come away with the equalizer. Falk's shot in the 86
th minute was their final attempt of the game but once again Travis made the stop.
The Falcons held a 14-10 shot advantage in the contest while
Phoebe Barnes made four saves in net for the Seawolves.
Sonoma State has made six straight NCAA Tournaments, and eight of the last nine. The Seawolves started six freshman in the contest while the experienced Falcons started seven seniors. Sonoma State will look to make another run next year as they only graduate one player and are slated to return 10 starters from this year's squad.