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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 –
Seattle Pacific at (#6) Simon Fraser
7:00 p.m. PDT, Terry Fox Field, Burnaby, B.C.
•Webcast:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaWNfy9sMXA 
•LiveStats:  http://portal.stretchinternet.com/spu/
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 –
Seattle Pacific at Western Washington
7:00 p.m. PDT, Harrington Field, Bellingham, Wash.
•Webcast & LiveStats:  http://portal.stretchinternet.com/spu/
 
Two-time defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer champion Seattle Pacific begins its title defense in difficult fashion with a two-game road trip against elite opposition. The Falcons (2-2-1) visit undefeated and sixth-ranked Simon Fraser (5-0-0) on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. SPU (2014-15) and the Clan (2010-13) have monopolized the last six GNAC titles. SFU dealt the Falcons their lone loss in 2015, 1-0 on Oct. 3 in Burnaby, B.C. On Saturday, Sept. 24 the Falcons visit Bellingham to clash with Western Washington (3-1-1) at 7 p.m. The Vikings lost their last five encounters versus SPU.
 
Last Week
After outscoring Colorado Christian (6-1) and Metro State (3-1) by a combined 9-2 a week earlier, the Falcons ended the homestand losing 2-1 to 18th-ranked Fort Hays State. SPU trailed 2-0 at the half, then got a 71st-minute goal from Stephen MacDonald. An equalizer never came despite a 19-9 shot lead and attempts off the post and crossbar.


 
Playoff Pursuit
The SPU men are vying for their 36th NCAA Division II Tournament berth. They participated in the playoffs in each of the last five years, the longest streak since 2000. The Falcons won five national championships, in 1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1993.
 
Throw-Ins
Senior forward Stephen MacDonald netted the last five SPU goals during a hot streak that saw him score seven times in the last four games ... Senior Jordan Kollars' league-leading five assists all came during the last three games ... At 2-2-1, the Falcons have already lost one more game than last year when they had a program-best one-loss season (14-1-4) ... SPU, which led the nation with a 0.45 goals against average in 2015 while allowing only nine goals, has surrendered eight scores this season (1.53 GAA).
 
2016 Preview
Six starters return from the SPU team that lost only one game (14-1-4), won its second straight GNAC championship and earned the No. 2 seed in the West Region. Four of SPU's returning starters received all-conference acclaim last year, including All-Americans Cody Lang and Davis Karaica. The 2015 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, Lang posted nine shutouts last year. The senior netminder is fronted by a defensive unit led by Karaica as a central defender and senior holding midfielder Jordan Kollars, an honorable mention All-GNAC pick. SPU was the nation's stingiest defense last season, surrendering an average of only 0.45 goals per game. Junior forwards Gabe Kellum and Mori Tsuchiya are the top returning scorers with four goals apiece in 2015. Falcons senior forward Stephen MacDonald returns after an injury-plagued season limited him to two goals and just eight games. He paced SPU with nine goals and eight assists in 2014. The impressive list of returning regulars is bolstered by six players that started at least twice in 2015 and six incoming freshmen who will challenge for playing time.
 
2015 Review
Last year, the SPU men compiled a 14-1-4 record and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season. They sustained the fewest losses ever for a program that has produced five national championships, falling only once with a 1-0 setback at Simon Fraser. All-Americans Cody Lang (GK), the 2015 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Davis Karaica (D) helped lead the nation's best defense that yielded just 0.45 goals per game. The season ended in the second round of the 2015 playoffs with a 1-1 draw against Cal State Dominguez Hills, which advanced by virtue of a 3-2 decision in the penalty kick tiebreaker.
 
This Week's Opponents
Simon Fraser (5-0-0, 0-0-0 GNAC) -- The sixth-ranked Clan boast a perfect record through five games despite not yet playing at home. They are outscoring opponents 11-2  led by the three goals of Mamadi Camara. Goalkeeper Brandon Watson has three shutouts and a 0.40 goals against average. SFU won four straight GNAC championships (2010-13) and advanced to back-to-back Final Fours in 2012 and 2013. The Northwest rivals split last year's meetings. The Clan won 1-0 on Oct. 3 in Burnaby, B.C. on a 15th-minute goal by Camara. The Falcons avenged that defeat with a 3-2 victory on Oct. 15 in Seattle behind a penalty kick in the 51st minute by Danny Olivas. That result gave SPU a 24-23-6 edge in the all-time series. 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 (3-1-1, 0-0-0 GNAC) -- The Vikings are coached for the fourth 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 18th-ranked Fort Hays State 1-0 at home on Sept. 15 in their last outing. The same Fort Hays team beat SPU 2-1 two days later. WWU junior midfielder Luke Olney, who has a goal and assist, is the son of former SPU standout Reece Olney (1986-90). Anthony Dean owns team-high honors with three goals. Goalkeeper Tyler Visten has three of WWU's four shutouts and has a 0.39 goals against average. The Falcons boast a 47-14-7 lead in the all-time series against Western, including five straight wins. SPU swept the 2015 season series, winning 2-1 on Oct. 1 in Bellingham and 4-0 on Oct. 17 in Seattle.
 
Coach Collings
Ninth-year coach Mark Collings is the third head coach in the 49-year history of Seattle Pacific men's soccer. He has a 96-37-25 record with the Falcons, including school-record streaks of 13 consecutive victories and 15 games unbeaten established in 2014. Collings collected his third GNAC Coach of the Year award (also 2010 & 2014) after directing SPU to a 14-1-4 record in 2015 and the team's fifth straight NCAA Division II playoff berth. They won the GNAC championship with a 10-1-3 record and participated in the West Regional semifinal. SPU's lone setback marked the fewest losses in school history. Collings led the Falcons to a 16-2-2 record in 2014. They compiled a first-place record of 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.