• 2010 Schedule

SEATTLE – A difficult four-game road trip will pose an early challenge for the Seattle Pacific men's soccer team, whose 18-game schedule was released Friday by Coach Mark Collings.

The 2010 season begins on Friday, Sept. 3 against Humboldt State with a 7 p.m. game at Interbay Stadium. The Falcons don't return home again until their Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener on Sept. 20 against Northwest rival Western Washington.

In between those home dates the Falcons embark on a four-game road trip to California and Colorado. SPU visits Chico State on Sept. 6 followed by a three-game swing in the Denver area to play at Metro State (Sept. 10), Mesa State (Sept. 13) and Regis (Sept. 15).

The NCAA decreased the number of games Division II teams can play, providing fewer opportunities to fit non-conference opponents on the schedule.

“Every year you go through the schedule and single out some games. With the changes to Division II, obviously our non-conference matches are going to be very important,” says Collings, who begins his third season as SPU's head coach.

“There are a limited number of non-conference games, especially against the California teams. We only have two of them on our schedule, so those games right out of the chute are going to be critical to us getting to the postseason. The games against the PacWest schools are also very important.”

Halfway through its 10-game league slate, the Falcons host a trio of non-conference foes. Hawaii Pacific plays at Interbay Stadium on Oct. 8 followed by visits from Grand Canyon (Oct. 14) and the University of Mary (Oct. 16).

The Falcons will play nine games at Interbay Stadium. Their final home game is Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. against defending conference champion Saint Martin's.

Tickets for SPU soccer games can be purchased at Interbay Stadium (3027 17th Ave. W., Seattle 98119) on game day. Ticket windows open one hour prior to kickoff. All seats are general admission, priced at $6 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. SPU students and staff are admitted free.

Discounted group rates can be arranged by calling in advance to the SPU Athletics Ticket Office at:  206-281-2085

SPU closes out the regular season with two road games, Nov. 4 at Simon Fraser and No. 6 at Western Washington.

“The conference slate is always difficult, especially this year with new member Simon Fraser,” Collings says. “We would like to win the conference this year and in order to do that we have to beat some quality teams.”

SPU started fall training on Monday, eyeing a return to the postseason for the first time since 2006.

The Falcons did not receive an invitation to the 2009 NCAA Tournament despite an 11-5-3 mark that was a five-win improvement from the previous season's record (6-10-3). They posted a 4-3-1 mark to place third in the GNAC standings.

Eight starters are back for SPU, including junior midfielder Tyler Schultz (Scottsdale, Ariz.) whose eight goals topped the team in 2009.

Also returning is junior midfielder Drew Williams (Bend, Ore.), who distributed a team-high nine assists last season, and sophomore defender Jon Pearman (Glendale, Ariz.) who was honored as the 2009 GNAC Freshman of the Year.

Senior goalkeeper Kaleb Kuehn (Marysville, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck) returns after compiling five shutouts and a fine 1.10 goals against average last season.


2010 Seattle Pacific Men's Soccer Schedule

Sept. 3      Humboldt State                     7:00 pm
Sept. 6      at Chico State                        7:00 pm
Sept. 10    at Metro State                      12:30 pm
Sept. 13    at Mesa State                        6:00 pm
Sept. 15    at Regis                                 2:30 pm
Sept. 20    Western Washington *           7:00 pm
Sept. 25    at Saint Martin's *                  1:00 pm
Sept. 30    at Montana State Billings *    3:30 pm
Oct. 2        Northwest Nazarene *           4:30 pm
Oct. 6        Simon Fraser *                      7:00 pm
Oct. 8        Hawaii Pacific                        7:00 pm
Oct. 14      Grand Canyon                       4:30 pm
Oct. 16      University of Mary                  7:00 pm
Oct. 21      at Northwest Nazarene *       3:30 pm
Oct. 23      Montana State Billings *        7:00 pm
Oct. 30      Saint Martin's *                      7:00 pm
Nov. 4       at Simon Fraser *                   7:00 pm
Nov. 6      at Western Washington *        7:00 pm

Pacific Times listed for all games
* Great Northwest Athletic Conference games
All home games played at Interbay Stadium
     (3027 17th Ave W., Seattle, WA 98119)