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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 –
(#18) Seattle Pacific at Montana State Billings
3:00 p.m. PDT (4:00 p.m. MDT), Yellowjacket Field, Billings, Mont.
•Webcast & LiveStats:  http://portal.stretchinternet.com/spu/
 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 –
(#18) Seattle Pacific at U-Mary
5:30 p.m. PDT (7:30 p.m. CDT), Community Bowl, Bismarck, N.D.
•Webcast:  http://portal.stretchinternet.com/umary/
•LiveStats:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/mary/msoc/
 
In the wake of their first setback, the 18th-ranked Seattle Pacific men complete a four-game away stretch with their longest road trip. The Falcons (6-1-2, 2-1-2 GNAC) visit Montana State Billings (4-2-3, 2-1-2) on Thursday, Oct. 8 for a 3 p.m. Pacific Time clash (4 p.m. MDT). SPU won the last five and is undefeated in its last 12 encounters (9-0-3) with the Yellowjackets. On Saturday, Oct. 10 the Falcons have a league contest at the University of Mary (2-6-1, 1-4-0). The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time (7:30 p.m. CDT) at the Community Bowl in Bismarck, N.D. SPU owns a 10-0-1 series lead over the Marauders.
 


Ranking Report
The Falcons fell 11 spots, to No. 18, in this week's national rankings. They were listed No. 8 in the preseason poll and as high as No. 3 two weeks ago. The SPU men rose as high as No. 2 in 2014. Their last No. 1 national ranking came on Sept. 20, 1994.
 
Dynamic Defense
SPU has allowed just three goals in nine games this season.  Junior goalkeeper Cody Lang has played all 853 minutes between the posts this season, compiling six shutouts and a 0.32 goals against average that leads the GNAC and ranks No. 4 nationally. The Falcons defense limited their seven opponents to 90 shots overall and just 28 attempts directly on goal.

 

Cody's Clean Sheets
Cody Lang blanked six of nine opponents this year, increasing his career total to 23 shutouts. That figure ties him for fourth among SPU career leaders with Zach Johnson (2009-12). He needs nine 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.
 
Throw-Ins
The Falcons last eight goals were scored by eight different players ... Both goals by Danny Olivas were game-winning strikes ... Eight players have started all nine SPU games this season ... Both of Ian Adams' assists set up game-winning goals.
 
Spectacular Start
SPU started the season 6-0-2, going deeper into the season 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).
 
Shutout Streak
The Falcons surrendered their first goal of the year on Sept. 26 on a 50th-minute free kick by Concordia's Ben Culpan that deflected off their wall. That snapped their scoreless streak at 612-minutes, 53-seconds after establishing a new school record with six clean sheets to start a season.
 
Playoff Pursuit
The SPU men are vying for their 35th NCAA Division II Tournament berth. They participated in the playoffs in each of the last four years, the longest streak since 2000. The Falcons won five national championships, in 1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1993.
 
2015 Preview
Nine starters return for SPU, featuring first-team All-GNAC goalkeeper Cody Lang. The junior shot-stopper registered 10 shutouts and an impressive 0.47 goals against average in 2014. Returning players accounted for 27 of the team's 37 goals last season, including nine from Stephen MacDonald and three apiece from Danny Olivas and Jordan Kollars. The dynamic defense boasts a pair of All-Americans in junior Davis Karaica (2nd team) and senior Bryson Pavel (3rd). The impressive list of returning regulars is bolstered by five players that started at least once in 2014 and five fine freshmen.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Montana State Billings (4-2-3, 2-1-2 GNAC) -- The Yellowjackets are among four teams, including SPU, tied for second place in the GNAC with eight points. Northwest Nazarene sits atop the standings with 13 points. Something's gotta give when the top scoring team in the GNAC (MSUB, 2.33 goals per game) clashes with its stingiest defense (SPU, 0.32 goals allowed per game). MSUB has outscored opponents 21-11 led by the league-leading 11 goals of Ricardo Palomino. Goalkeeper Tom Lohmann has two shutouts and a 1.19 goals against average. SPU leads the all-time series 14-3-4.
 
University of Mary (2-6-1, 1-4-0 GNAC) -- The Marauders hail from Bismarck, N.D. and are fourth-year GNAC members, competing in men's soccer only. U-Mary lost its last three games after beating Simon Fraser 1-0 on Sept. 24. James Liddiard leads the Mary attack with three goals. The Falcons own a 10-0-1 series lead, including two wins last season.
 
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 86-35-22 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
SPU hosts Simon Fraser on Oct. 15 and Western Washington on Oct. 17.