• GNAC Coaches Poll & Preview

SPOKANE, Wash. -- If the coaches are correct, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer race will be a tight battle. And Seattle Pacific will be right in the thick of it.

The Falcons were projected for a second-place tie in the GNAC coaches poll released this week.

Defending champion Saint Martin's returns its entire starting lineup and was picked to win the league again. But the Saints 6-2 record was just one loss fewer than the next three teams in the 2009 standings. The top four finishers were separated by just two games.

The conference coaches predict similar congestion atop the 2010 standings.

Saint Martin's received three first-place votes and 30 points in the preseason poll. SPU had one first-place tally and 26 points, tying for second with GNAC newcomer Simon Fraser which had the remaining two first-place votes. A perennial powerhouse in the Canadian ranks, the Clan are in their first year as an NCAA Division II member. They advanced to the NAIA national semifinals last season.

Western Washington was selected fourth in the poll with 24 points, followed by Montana State Billings (13) and Northwest Nazarene (7).

“The conference slate is always difficult, especially this year with new member Simon Fraser. We would like to win the conference this year and in order to do that we have to beat some quality teams,” says Mark Collings, who begins his third season as SPU's head coach.

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

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.

The Falcons open the season at home, hosting Humboldt State on Friday, Sept. 3. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium following a women's soccer game at 4:30 p.m.

SPU plays its first conference game at home on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. against Western Washington. With the addition of Simon Fraser to the GNAC, teams will play a 10-game league schedule.


2010 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

Team (first-place votes), Total points
1, Saint Martin's (3), 30
2t, Seattle Pacific (1), 26
2t, Simon Fraser (2), 26
4, Western Washington, 24
5, Montana State Billings, 13
6, Northwest Nazarene, 7