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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 –
Simon Fraser at (#12) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 –
Western Washington at (#12) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
• LiveStats for both games:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/spu/msoc/
 
A two-game homestand this week at Interbay Stadium gives 12th-ranked Seattle Pacific a brief respite from the road. The Falcons (8-1-2, 4-1-2 GNAC) regained first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer standings by winning three games on a four-game road trip. The lone loss came Oct. 1 at Simon Fraser (4-2-4, 3-1-3) and SPU can avenge that defeat at home on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The all-time series is level at 23-23-3. On Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., Western Washington (4-4-3, 2-3-2) makes its annual visit to Seattle. The Vikings lost their last four encounters versus SPU.  
 
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.
 
Speedy Scores
The Falcons tied a 26-year-old school record for the shortest time between goals when Ian Adams and Mori Tsuchiya scored 0:13 apart in a 3-1 win at Montana State Billings on Oct. 8. They matched the 13-second feat of former Falcons Doug Morrill and Vasco Rubio, who netted swift successive scores during a win over Jacksonville on Sept. 1, 1989 in Las Vegas. That mark tied for 10th on the list of quickest back-to-back goals among NCAA Division II men's teams.
 


Ranking Report
The Falcons climbed 6 spots, to No. 12, in this week's national rankings. They were listed No. 8 in the preseason poll and as high as No. 3, on Sept. 22. The SPU men polled as high as second in 2014. Their last No. 1 ranking came Sept. 20, 1994.
 
Player of the Week
Mori Tsuchiya, who collected two goals and an assist to spark a pair of SPU road wins, was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Tsuchiya netted the Falcons final tally in Thursday's 3-1 victory at Montana State Billings. On Saturday in Bismarck, N.D., Tsuchiya was credited with an assist on the team's second goal, and scored the third, in a 4-0 triumph at U-Mary that marked the Falcons highest scoring output of the season. Last week marked the first two starting assignments for the sophomore forward, who compiled his entire three-goal total during the last four games.
 
Dynamic Defense
SPU has allowed just four goals in 11 games this season.  Junior goalkeeper Cody Lang compiled six shutouts and a 0.37 goals against average that leads the nation. The Falcons defense registered seven shutouts, limiting their 11 opponents to 109 shots overall and just 33 attempts directly on goal.

 

Cody's Clean Sheets
Cody Lang blanked six opponents this year, increasing his career total to 24 shutouts. That figure ranks him for fourth among SPU career leaders. He needs eight more shutouts to tie for the No. 3 spot with Jeff Storrs (32 from 1985-88). The school record is a lofty total of 46 compiled by former Premier League keeper Marcus Hahnemann, who minded the Falcons nets from 1990-93.
 
Spectacular Start
SPU started the season 6-0-2, going deeper into the campaign without a loss than all but three previous SPU squads. The school record is 15 games without a loss to start the season, set last year (14-0-1).
 
Scouting the Opponents
Simon Fraser (4-2-4, 3-1-3 GNAC) -- After an uncharacteristic slow 1-2-2 start, the Clan is undefeated in its last five outings withe three wins and two draws. They won four straight GNAC championships (2010-13) and advanced to back-to-back Final Fours in 2012 and 2013. Adam Jones and Mamadi Camara pace the SFU attack with four goals apiece. Goalkeeper Brandon Watson has five shutouts and a 0.76 goals against average. The Falcons swept the 2014 season series, their first two-game season sweep of Simon Fraser since 2000. The Clan won 1-0 on Oct. 3 in Burnaby, B.C. on a 15th-minute goal by Camara. That result evened the all-time series at 23-23-6. The teams did not play from 2007-09 after meeting at least once in each of the previous 32 years dating to 1975.
 
Western Washington (4-4-3, 2-3-2 GNAC) -- The Vikings are coached for the third season by Greg Brisbon, a 12-year assistant with the program. In 2014 they dedicated Harrington Field, a soccer venue is located on the WWU campus. The Vikings upset 12th-ranked Northwest Nazarene at home in their last outing, winning 2-1 in overtime. WWU sophomore midfielder Luke Olney, who has two assists, is the son of former SPU standout Reece Olney (1986-90). Adam Talley owns team-high honors with three goals. Goalkeeper Tyler Visten compiled two shutouts and a 1.29 goals against average. The Falcons boast a 46-14-7 lead in the all-time series against Western, including four straight wins. SPU won the last encounter 2-1 on Oct. 1 in Bellingham behind goals from Ian Adams and Mori Tsuchiya.
 
Coach Collings
Eighth-year coach Mark Collings is the third head coach in the 48-year history of Seattle Pacific men's soccer. He has an 88-35-22 record with the Falcons, including school-record streaks of 13 consecutive victories and 15 games unbeaten established in 2014. Collings collected his second GNAC Co-Coach of the Year award (also 2010) after directing SPU to a 16-2-2 record in 2014 and the team's fourth straight NCAA Division II playoff berth. They won the GNAC championship with a 12-1-1 record and advanced to the West Region championship game. The Falcons were 12-4-3 in 2013 with a second-place league mark of 10-1-3. In 2012, Collings coached SPU to a 11-3-5 record and in 2011 a 14-4-2 record was capped by the first playoff appearance in five years. He led SPU to a 10-6-2 mark in 2010 after records of 11-5-3 in 2009 and 6-10-3 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.
 
SPU Visits Spain
The Seattle Pacific men had the unique opportunity to travel to Spain from August 6-16 and stay in Madrid where they visited the Real Madrid training complex and Bernabéu Stadium. The Falcons played four games, winning two of them. Ian Adams compiled three goals and an assist during the trip, Stephen MacDonald tallied two goals and an assist and Keenan dePinna scored twice. They also visited museums and toured the historic Spanish cities of Segovia and Toledo.
 
2014 Review
The SPU men registered a 16-2-2 overall record in 2014, won the GNAC championship with a 12-1-1 mark and participated in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. They defeated Northwest Nazarene 2-1 in the playoffs before falling 1-0 in overtime against Cal State L.A. in the West Regional final. The Falcons forged a 13-game winning streak and 15-game unbeaten streak, both school records. Two seniors departed, both of them starters: defender Evan Robicheau and forward Sean Russell. SPU outscored foes 37-10 led by Stephen MacDonald's 9-goal, 8-assist performance.
 
Record Runs
The Falcons established two new, school-record stretches last season with a 13-game winning streak (previous record 10) and a 15-game unbeaten streak (13) in 2014.
 
Next Week
The Falcons embark on their final regular-season road trip, visiting Portland to play Concordia on Oct 22 and then Nampa, Idaho to meet Northwest Nazarene on Oct. 24.