THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21 --
(#13) Seattle Pacific at Simon Fraser, 7:00 p.m. PST
Terry Fox Field/Burnaby, B.C.
Webcast: www.educationcdn.com/schools/clan
LiveStats: http://cgi.sfu.ca/~athlwww/livestats/wsoccer/xlive.htm

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 --
(#13) Seattle Pacific at Western Washington, 4:00 p.m. PST
Orca Field/Bellingham, Wash.
LiveStats: www.wwugamedaystats.com/livestats


SEATTLE -- It's payback week for the Seattle Pacific women's soccer team.

The 13th-ranked Falcons (10-1-2) play the two teams that put the only blemishes on their 7-1-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference record, beginning Thursday, Oct. 21 at Simon Fraser. The Clan played SPU to a scoreless tie on Oct. 2 in Seattle despite being outshot 16-5

On Saturday, Oct. 23 the Falcons visit Bellingham to clash with Northwest rival Western Washington. Kick-off is 4 p.m. at Orca Field on the Whatcom Community College campus. SPU lost by one-goal margins in its last two trips to WWU, including a 1-0 setback on Sept. 30 in Seattle.



GNAC Title Hunt

This week will have a huge impact on the GNAC race as first-place SPU plays second-place Western Washington and fourth-place Simon Fraser.

The defending conference champion Falcons have a 7-1-1 league record and 22 points. WWU is second with a 6-2-1 mark and 19 points, followed by Montana State Billings at 6-3-0 and 18 points. The Clan are fourth with 14 points by virtue of a 5-2-2 record.

Seattle Pacific was projected to repeat as GNAC champion in the preseason coaches poll. The Falcons captured the 2009 conference crown with a 9-2-1 record. They have won six of the nine titles since the GNAC began sponsoring women's soccer in 2001.

Not only is the league title up for grabs, teams are also battling for playoff berths and seedings. The top seed in the West region gains the advantage of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Two years ago, that early postseason home field advantage helped propel the Falcons to the 2008 national championship. Last year they were sent on the road to San Diego and lost in the first round on a penalty kick tiebreaker after playing Chico State to a scoreless tie.


Scouting SPU
10-1-2, 7-1-1 GNAC

The first-place Falcons have outscored opponents 30-5, led by a trio of five-goal scorers: Brandi Hamre (Bremerton, Wash./Central Kitsap HS), Megan Lindsay (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) and Kellie Zakrzewski (Cheney, Wash./Cheney HS). Sophomore Kendall Thoreson (Seattle, Wash./King's HS), a Northwestern transfer, is tied for the GNAC lead with seven assists.

Lindsay tallied both goals Saturday in SPU's 2-0 overtime win at second-place Montana State Billings, including a golden goal in the fifth minute of overtime. She was named the GNAC Player of the Week on Monday.

The stingy SPU defense shut out eight opponents and has not yielded more than one goal in any game. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Dickinson (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview HS) is the school's all-time leader with 27 career shutouts. She compiled a 0.37 goals against average while playing all but 13 minutes this season.


Scouting Simon Fraser
6-3-2, 5-2-2 GNAC

The Clan are the newest members of the GNAC, joining the league this year after becoming the first Canadian school to join the NCAA. Shelley Howieson is in her 22nd season as head coach, having directed SFU to two NAIA national championships, in 1996 and 2000.

Seven different players accounted for the Clan's 13 goals led by the four scores of Lia Marining. The SFU defense allowed just five goals, enabling goalkeeper Amelia Ng to post seven shutouts and a 0.44 goals against average.

SPU and Simon Fraser played for the first time ever on Oct. 2 in Seattle, battling to a scoreless draw.


Scouting Western Washington
9-2-2, 6-2-1 GNAC

The Vikings are coached for the eighth season by former four-year Seattle Pacific men's soccer letterman Travis Connell (1991-95). WWU was listed in the national rankings during September before dropping out after having a 14-game unbeaten streak snapped Sept. 25 with a 1-0 home loss to Montana State Billings.

Claire Morgan leads the Vikings with six goals and is tied for the GNAC assist lead with SPU's Kendall Thoreson, each with seven.

Goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs compiled nine shutouts and a 0.37 goals against average.

SPU leads the all-time series 13-4-3 despite a 1-3-2 record in the last six meetings. The Falcons' lone win in the last three seasons was a big one as they were 1-0 double overtime victors on Nov. 20 in the Sweet 16 of the 2008 playoffs. SPU went on to win the 2008 national championship.

The Vikings won this season's first meeting, a 1-0 decision on Sept. 30 in Seattle. Kristin Maris scored the game winner in the 89th minute, off a pass from Morgan.

SPU SOCCER TICKETS...

Tickets for SPU soccer games can be purchased on game day at Interbay Stadium (3027 17th Ave. W., Seattle 98119). Ticket windows open one hour prior to kickoff. All seats are general admission and priced at $6 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. SPU students and staff are admitted free. Groups or teams of 10 or more may qualify for reduced ticket rates by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

Next Week

The SPU women play their final three regular-season games at home, beginning Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. against Western Oregon. They host Saint Martin's on Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. and Central Washington on Nov. 6 at 1 p.m.