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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 --
Saint Martin's at (#22) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium (900), Seattle, Wash.
• LiveStats:  www.sidearmstats.com/spu/msoc
 
 
A single-game this week concludes the regular-season men's soccer schedule for 22nd-ranked Seattle Pacific. The Falcons (10-3-4, 6-3-4 GNAC) entertain Saint Martin's (3-14-0, 2-11-0) on Saturday, Nov. 3. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium. SPU was victorious in each of its last five encounters with the Saints, including a wild 5-3 decision on Oct. 6 in Lacey, Wash.
 
Senior Salute
Prior to Saturday's game, a brief ceremony will be conducted to honor SPU's 10 seniors. Richie Evoy, Zach Johnson, Brandon Kuenzi, Corey McGuire, Christopher Morris, Elliot Morton, Caleb Nyone, Jon Pearman, Kyle Peterman and Kyle Smurdon will make their final regular-season home appearances at Interbay Stadium. That 10-man class helped the Falcons compile a 45-18-11 record and earn a 2011 NCAA Tournament berth during their four-year collegiate careers.
 
Ticket Talk
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.
 
Playoff Pursuit
The Falcons are vying for their second straight NCAA Division II Tournament berth and their 32nd overall. They advanced to the West Regional championship game last fall. SPU won five national championships, in 1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1993.
 
NCAA Format
The top-two teams from the West Region will host the opening rounds of the NCAA Division II Tournament and also get first-round byes. Simon Fraser, Grand Canyon and Seattle Pacific are currently ranked one-two-three in the regional rankings. The 36-team championship field will be announced on Monday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time via a webcast selection show on NCAA.com. Under a different format last year, SPU parlayed the homefield advantage into an opening-round 2-1 overtime win against Cal State Dominguez. The Falcons fell 3-2 in the second round versus Cal State L.A.  
 
Falcons Fast Facts
SPU posted double-digit victories in four straight seasons for the first time in 10 years ... Junior Blaine Carver tops the team with seven goals, including a team-high five game-winners ... The Falcons have a 5-2-1 home record at Interbay Stadium this season ... Senior Zach Johnson has 22 career shutouts, the No. 4 mark in SPU history.
 
Recent Recap
SPU suffered a pair of home setbacks last week against Northwest rivals. Western Washington won 3-1 on Oct. 25 despite being outshot 18-14 by the Falcons. Ian Adams' 77th-minute strike accounted for the lone SPU tally. On Oct. 27 third-ranked Simon Fraser got a goal in the seventh minute of overtime for a 1-0 win over the Falcons.
 
Ranking Report
Seattle Pacific dropped 11 places to No. 22 in this week's national poll. On Sept. 10, SPU received its highest men's soccer ranking in 18 years with a No. 2 listing in the NCAA Division II poll that was released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). That was the Falcons highest poll position since a No. 1 ranking on Sept. 20, 1994. Current SPU assistant coach Nate Daligcon was a starting midfielder on that top-ranked team. Fifth-year head coach Mark Collings played for the Falcons from 1995-98, but none of the SPU teams he played on climbed as high in the rankings as the current team he is coaching. Simon Fraser is the only other GNAC team in the poll, listed at No. 3 this week.
 
This Week's Opponent
Saint Martin's (3-14-0, 2-11-0 GNAC) -- The Saints lost their last three games by a combined 15-3 score. The were defeated in 10 of their last 11 outings. Dylan Gaydosh accounted for eight of SMU's 19 goals this season. Goalkeepers JJ Olson, Eric Owen and Mikey Boswell combined for two shutouts and a 3.26 goals against average. The Falcons won the last five meetings, including 5-3 come-from-behind win on Oct. 6 in Lacey, Wash. Kyle Smurdon scored twice for the Falcons, who overcame deficits of 2-1 and 3-2. SPU owns an 8-3 advantage in the all-time series.
 
Fastest to Fifty
Mark Collings registered his 50th victory on Oct. 11 in his 88th game as head coach. That is the fastest to the 50-win mark for any Falcons coach. Legendary SPU coach Cliff McCrath (1970-2007) got his 50th win in game No. 94. At 51-28-14, Collings ranks No. 2 in all-time SPU coaching wins. McCrath had a 512-190-87 SPU record.
 
Coach Collings
Fifth-year coach Mark Collings is the third head coach in the 45-year history of Seattle Pacific men's soccer. He has a 51-28-14 record with the Falcons. Collings directed SPU to a 14-4-2 record in 2011, capped by its first playoff appearance in five years. The Falcons earned the top seed in the West and advanced to the regional championship game. Collings was named the 2010 GNAC Co-Coach of the Year after leading SPU to a 10-6-2 overall record and a second-place league mark of 7-2-1. The Falcons were 11-5-3 in 2009, finishing third with a 4-3-1 league ledger. In his first season, SPU was 6-10-3 with a second-place GNAC finish (4-4) in 2008. Collings replaced Cliff McCrath, who compiled a 512-190-87 mark in 38 seasons (1970-2007). Arnie Aizstrauts was 1-14-1 from 1968-69. The co-captain of SPU's 1998 Final Four team, Collings was a five-year assistant coach. He avoided a first-year Falcon curse as his predecessors were winless in their inaugural seasons.
 
Stellar Start
This year's Falcons equaled the best start in school history with six season-opening wins. The 1985 and 1991 SPU squads each started 6-0 before both lost in their seventh outing. The 1985 team proceeded to win the third of SPU's five NCAA titles.
 
2012 Preview
Eight starters return from the SPU men's soccer team that registered a 14-4-2 record and advanced to the West Regional final of the 2011 NCAA Division II Tournament. Heading the list of returnees are first-team All-America defender Jon Pearman and honorable mention goalkeeper selection Zach Johnson. They lead a defense that compiled 11 shutouts and a 0.88 goals against average. The midfield features first-team All-GNAC standout Caleb Nyone. Helping ease the loss of the team's top-three scorers, including All-American Tyler Schultz, is junior forward Blaine Carver along with frontline mates Elliot Morton and Kyle Peterman who were both sidelined last season due to injury.