The Seattle University men’s soccer team displayed the resiliency it has shown all season, coming back from a halftime deficit with two goals in the second half to defeat San Jose State, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Cadet Soccer Stadium, winning the Western Athletic Conference Tournament title and the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament.
Down 1-0 at halftime, Seattle U increased the offensive pressure, forcing San Jose State to commit key fouls close to the box. In the 56th minute, Ian Hines-Ike (Littleton, Colo.) sent a free kick into the box, but Brady Ballew’s (Marysville, Wash.) header sailed over the net. One minute later, off another Spartan foul, Hines-Ike again drove a free kick into the box, where Miguel Gonzalez (Yelm, Wash.) put his head on the ball, finding the back of the net for his 13th goal of the season, tying the match at 1-1.
After a couple of Spartan chances were turned aside by Jake Feener (Rocklin, Calif.), Seattle U regained possession, but scoring chances by Gonzalez and Ballew were not on target. In the 71st minute, Hines-Ike sent a long pass towards the net, and Hamza Haddadi (Shoreline, Wash.) was able to beat his defender, gain possession, and slide the ball underneath the diving Spartan goalie into the net to put the Redhawks ahead.
In the final 10 minutes, San Jose State pressed the action looking for the tying goal, but the Redhawk defense prevented it from taking place. Frankie Beauchamp took a couple of shots late, one of which needed to be corralled by Feener, who was named tournament MVP, and Seattle U was able to hold off the rally and earn the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s a great win. We have come from behind several times this season. San Jose State battled today, especially playing its third match in four days. I am very excited for these kids, especially the seniors after everything they have been through in their careers,” Seattle U head men’s soccer coach Peter Fewing said. “We need to regroup and make sure we are ready for our next opponent.”
San Jose State (4-13-4) and Seattle U battled for possession through the early part of the first half, with Hines-Ike taking a couple of shots that were close to the net and Beauchamp doing the same for the Spartans in the first 15 minutes. In the 18th minute, San Jose State’s Rory Knibbs made a run down the field, but his shot was easily scooped up by Feener, keeping the match scoreless.
In the 29th minute, after a Redhawk foul, Ben Cowdrill nailed a free kick from 25 yards out into the upper right corner of the net to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. Seven minutes later, Hines-Ike nearly took advantage of a Spartan foul with a similar scoring attempt, but his free kick was punched away by San Jose State goalkeeper Emmanuel Espinosa.
Seattle U outshot San Jose State, 18-14, and took eight corner kicks while allowing the Spartans to take just two corner kicks. Feener finished with seven saves and Espinosa was credited with four saves. Hines-Ike led the Redhawks with five shots, with Gonzalez and Haddadi taking four shots apiece. Cowdrill paced the Spartans with five shots, followed by Beauchamp with four shots.
Besides Feener, Gonzalez, Hines-Ike, and Kyle Bjornethun (Snohomish, Wash.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Seattle University (10-8-4) will find out its first round opponent in the NCAA Tournament during the selection show taking place Monday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m. on NCAA.com. As soon as the bracket is announced, information will be posted on GoSeattleU.com.