• Complete Release (pdf)   |   • VIDEO: Jess  Cayetano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 –
(#2) Simon Fraser at Seattle Pacific
7:30 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 –
Western Washington at Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
• Webcast for Both Games:  http://portal.stretchinternet.com/spu/
• LiveStats for Both Games:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/spu/msoc/
 
Seattle Pacific (4-1-0, 0-0-0 GNAC) dives headlong into Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer play at home this week against last season's top-two finishers. Defending champion and second-ranked Simon Fraser (4-0-0, 0-0-0) invades Interbay Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 21 for a 7:30 p.m. clash. The Clan swept both meetings in 2016 to take a 25-24-6 edge in the all-time series with SPU. On Saturday, Sept. 23, Western Washington (1-2-2, 0-0-0) visits Seattle for a 7 p.m. contest. The Northwest rivals played to a draw in both games last year and SPU hasn't lost to the Vikings since 2012, forging a 5-0-3 record during that span. The Falcons seek positive results this week to build momentum for a five-game road trip that begins next week in Montana and Idaho.
 
Highly Ranked Foe
The last time the Falcons played a top-two ranked opponent they emerged victorious. SPU upset No. 1 Simon Fraser 2-1 on Oct. 3, 2013 in Seattle.
 
Streaking
Seattle Pacific won its last four games to complete the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 4-1-0 record. After losing the opener 2-1 to Chico State despite an 18-11 shot advantage, the Falcons reeled off victories over Sonoma State (4-1), Metro State (2-1), Colorado Christian (3-2) and Fort Hays State (2-1). The latter was accomplished in dramatic fashion when Ryan Higgins netted a golden goal with 26 seconds left in the final overtime on Sept. 14 versus Fort Hays.
 

 
Get Your Tickets
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, priced at $7 for adults and $4 for students and seniors.
 
Home Webcasts
For the first time SPU will stream live webcasts of its home games. They can be viewed live, or soon after games in the archives, at -- http://portal.stretchinternet.com/spu  LiveStats are available at -- www.sidearmstats.com/spu/msoc

Brace Yourself
Three of this year's five games have seen an SPU scorer post a pair of goals. Gabe Kellum scored twice against Sonoma State (Sept. 2), Mori Tsuchiya at Metro State (Sept. 7) and Gabriel Weber at Colorado Christian (Sept. 9). The Falcons had four multi-goal games from players during the entire 2016 season.
 
Playoff Pursuit
The Falcons are vying for their 36th NCAA Division II Tournament berth. They participated in the playoffs five straight seasons from 2011-15, a streak that stopped last year. SPU has won five national championships (1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 & 1993).
 
2017 Preview
A lot of fresh faces for the Falcons! One third of the roster is comprised of newcomers and 10 of the 27 players have never seen action in an SPU uniform. Seven starters do return from last year's 6-6-5 squad, including players who accounted for 19 of the team's 33 goals. Senior forward Gabe Kellum is the top returning scorer with six goals to his credit in 2016. He also distributed four assists. Senior midfielder Jess Cayetano compiled four goals and two assists and was rewarded with honorable mention All-GNAC accolades. A trio of defensive starters is back in Ryan Higgins, Luke Postma and Julian White. The lengthy list of returning regulars is bolstered by six players that started at least once in 2016, along with eight true freshmen who will challenge for playing time.
 
This Week's Opponents
Simon Fraser (4-0-0, 0-0-0 GNAC) -- The second-ranked Clan are undefeated, featuring a 2-1 win over then No. 10 Cal Poly Pomona. SFU won four straight GNAC titles (2010-13) and advanced to back-to-back Final Fours in 2012 and 2013. After two Seattle Pacific league championships (2014, 2015), the Clan recaptured the crown in 2016. Goalkeeper Miguel Hof has two shutouts and a 0.50 goals against average. Simon Fraser is outscoring opponents 13-2 led by the three goals of Matteo Polisi. Senior midfielder Adam Jones, the 2016 GNAC Player of the Year, has two goals and two assists. Jones had a hat trick in the last encounter with the Falcons, a 4-2 SFU win on Nov. 5 in Seattle. That gave the Clan a 25-24-6 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 (1-2-2, 0-0-0 GNAC) -- The Vikings are coached for the fifth season by Greg Brisbon, a 12-year assistant with the program. WWU senior midfielder Luke Olney, who has one goal, is the son of former SPU standout Reece Olney (1986-90). Anthony Dean owns team-high honors with five goals. The Falcons boast a 47-14-9 lead in the all-time series against Western, including five straight wins prior to a 3-3 tie on Sept. 24, 2016 in Bellingham. SPU's Ryan Higgins tied it in the 84th minute and both teams finished that game with nine players due to four red cards. The teams drew 1-1 in the Oct. 6 rematch in Seattle.

 

Coach Collings
Mark Collings is in his 10th season as head coach at his alma mater. He has directed Seattle Pacific to a 104-42-29 record, two GNAC championships and a stretch of five consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament berths from 2011-15. His coaching highlights include school-record streaks of 13 consecutive victories and 15 games unbeaten established in 2014 along with absorbing the fewest losses in a campaign with just one in 2015 (14-1-4). Collings registered his 100th coaching victory with the Falcons on Oct. 28, 2016. He collected his third GNAC Coach of the Year award in 2015 (also 2010 & 2014). Collings is the third head coach in the 50-year history of SPU men's soccer. He replaced Cliff McCrath (512-190-87 record from 1970-2007). Arnie Aizstrauts was 1-14-1 from 1968-69. The co-captain as a defender on SPU's 1998 Final Four team, Collings was a five-year assistant coach for the Falcons.
 
2016 Review
Last year, the SPU men posted a 6-6-5 record and were absent from the NCAA field for the first time since 2010, snapping a five-year playoff streak. They injury-depleted Falcons finished fifth in the GNAC standings with a 4-4-4 league ledger. Five Falcons, including four-time, first-team defender Davis  Karaica, were named to the All-GNAC squad. Karaica was a two-time All-American who participated in 30 shutouts while starting each of his 73 career games at SPU. Seniors Jeffrey  Collings and Cody  Lang were recognized as second-team selections. Senior Jordan  Kollars and junior Jess Cayetano received honorable mention acclaim.
 
Next Week
The Falcons embark on a five-game road trip, starting Sept. 28 at Montana State Billings. The stretch away from Seattle also takes them to Northwest Nazarene (Sept. 30), Western Washington (Oct. 5), Concordia (Oct. 7) and Saint Martin's (Oct. 12).