• 2010 SPU Schedule
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SEATTLE -- There may not be a team more anxious to start training camp.

The Seattle Pacific women's soccer team invaded Interbay Stadium on Monday for their first practice of the 2010 season. They congregated on a field for the first time since being eliminated from the NCAA Division II Tournament on a penalty kick tiebreaker. SPU and Chico State played to a scoreless tie through regulation and overtime.

The Falcons don't foresee any ill effects from last season's abrupt ending. If anything they are energized.

“Our kids came in very fit. The energy at practice and level of play has been outstanding,” said Chuck Sekyra, who begins his eighth season as head coach at SPU. He directed the Falcons into the playoffs every year, including a national championship performance in 2008.

“This looks like a very confident, fit, high-playing team, so we're real excited. We've got depth with some kids that are going to make a difference from the freshmen class as well.”

Last season, SPU won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship with a 9-2-1 record. The Falcons, who were ranked No. 1 nationally for six weeks, finished with a 16-3-2 record and participated in the postseason for the seventh straight season.

Eight starters return from that team, including senior goalkeeper Maddie Dickinson (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview). She was honored as an all-region selection after recording nine shutouts and a 0.57 goals against average.

The defense is anchored by sophomore defender Taylor Sawyer (Gig Harbor, Wash./North Mason) who garnered All-America accolades after her rookie season.

The offense features junior midfielder Kelsey Jenkins (Kent, Wash./Kentwood) who netted five goals and distributed a team-high eight assists. Sophomore forward Megan Lindsay ranked second on the team with six goals in 2009.

One of the three starters SPU needs to replace is forward Jocelyn Charette who capped her career last fall with 15 goals and the GNAC Player of the Year award.

Sekyra established a straightforward goal for the 2010 campaign.

“Our theme is 'Be great and have fun at the same time.' We have a great group of girls who love playing together. We have already seen the spirit this group has and how much they love being around each other. They have the ability to be great.

“I think it would be an amazing season to have fun every minute and play great soccer. We have the ability to do both.”

The Falcons open the season at home, hosting Humboldt State on Friday, Sept. 3. Kick-off is 4:30 p.m. at Interbay Stadium as the opener of a doubleheader with the SPU men who play at 7 p.m.