• COMPLETE RELEASE (pdf)     |     • VIDEO: Coach Mark Collings

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30
Seattle Pacific at Chico State
7:00 p.m. PDT, University Soccer Stadium, Chico, Calif.
• Webcast:  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/chico/ 
• LiveStats:  http://www.chicowildcats.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Seattle Pacific at Sonoma State
5:00 p.m. PDT, Seawolf Soccer Field, Rohnert Park, Calif.
• Webcast:  https://boxcast.tv/view/mens-soccer--seattle-pacific-vs-sonoma-state-830044
• LiveStats:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/sonoma/msoc/
 
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Seattle Pacific at Azusa Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Cougar Soccer Complex, Azusa, Calif.
• Webcast & LiveStats:  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/apu/
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Seattle Pacific at (#23) Point Loma Nazarene
2:00 p.m. PDT, PLNU Soccer Field, San Diego, Calif.
• Webcast & LiveStats:  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/plnu/
 
Seeking a return to the NCAA Division II playoffs after a two-year absence, the Seattle Pacific men begin the 2018 soccer season with a formidable four-game road trip. Coach Mark Collings' Falcons open with two games in Northern California, beginning at 7 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, Aug. 30 at Chico State. That marks the 10th consecutive season SPU has encountered the Wildcats, who won the last two meetings. On Saturday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. PDT the Falcons visit Rohnert Park to clash with Sonoma State. They met last season in Seattle and SPU was a 4-1 victor. Next week the Falcons travel to Southern California, beginning with a Thursday, Sept. 6 game at 7 p.m. PDT for SPU's first ever encounter with Azusa Pacific. The road swing concludes in San Diego on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Falcons square off with 23rd-ranked and PacWest Conference preseason favorite Point Loma Nazarene at 2 p.m. PDT. These teams haven't met since 1995. The Interbay Stadium home opener for the SPU men is slated for Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. versus Hawaii Pacific.
 
Opening Act
The Falcons lost just twice in their last 13 season openers, but one of them was a 2-1 home setback last year versus Chico State. SPU has a 10-2-1 mark during that span and boasts a 33-9-8 record in all-time season-opening contests.
 
Celebrating 50 Years
Seattle Pacific men's soccer celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special weekend for former players and coaches, capped by a ceremony at the 7 p.m. game on Sept. 15 at Interbay Stadium. The Falcons made 35 all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and captured five national championships (1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 & 1993). Seattle Pacific won its inaugural game on Oct. 9, 1968, 4-0 over Charles Wright Academy.
 


2018 Preview
SPU was projected to replicate last season's runner-up finish according to the preseason GNAC coaches poll. Last year, the Falcons posted an 11-5-1 record, but were absent from the NCAA Division II Tournament field for only the second time since 2010. They finished second in the GNAC standings with a 7-4-1 record, just two points back of Simon Fraser. Five starters return from last year's team, including senior goalkeeper Kary Whitney, who opened all but one game last season while compiling a 1.43 goals against average. The defense features returning seniors Jacob Bohl and Luke Postma. Sophomore Jose Benavides, an honorable mention All-GNAC performer, is back to bolster the midfield. The SPU offense looks to replace its top-four point producers. Sophomore Alex Mejia is the top returning scorer with eight points, on three goals and two assists. Returning junior Samuel Agyei netted two goals last year. The cadre of returning regulars is bolstered by six players that started at least once in 2017, along with eight true freshmen and University of Portland transfer Reid Baez.
 
GNAC Title Hunt
The SPU men won back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) soccer championships, in 2014 and 2015, before Simon Fraser won the last two crowns. The Falcons vie for their fourth league title since the GNAC was formed in 2001. 
 
Buy Tickets in Advance
Falcons fans can now obtain tickets for all home events in advance through a new system introduced this year. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://siteline.vendini.com/site/spufalcons.com    All seats for SPU soccer are general admission and priced at $7 for adults and $5 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) 281-2393 in advance.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Chico State (10-6-2 in 2017) -- Eight starters return from the Wildcats squad that had a 10-6-2 record last season. A pair of first-team All-CCAA honorees highlight the list of returnees. Goalkeeper Damion Lewis was the league's 2017 Defender of the Year and forward Jeremiah Egujie was the Newcomer of the Year. Felipe Restrepo is in his 11th season as head coach, having directed the Wildcats to five NCAA Division II Tournament berths. Chico won the last two meetings to even the all-time series 20-20-3. The Wildcats won 2-1 last year in Seattle and 3-2 at Chico in 2016.

 

Sonoma State (7-7-2 in 2017) -- The Seawolves had a streak of four straight 10-win seasons snapped with a 7-7-2 record in 2017. Sonoma features a trio of returning players that received honorable mention All-CCA honors in 2017 in midfielders Jonny Blake and Luis Mendoza along with forward Sebastian Santos. The Seawolves are coached for the 28th season by Marcus Zeimer, who has amassed 334 career wins. SPU was a 4-1 victor in the last meeting, on Sept. 2, 2017 in Seattle, to take a 14-2-5 all-time series lead.
 
Azusa Pacific (6-10-1 in 2017) -- The Cougars were tabbed fifth in the preseason PacWest Conference poll. Azusa features a stellar midfield corps headlined by senior Aleksander Pumpalovic (7 goals/3 assists) and junior Arturo Astorga (4/5), who each garnered preseason all-conference accolades after earning all-league honors in 2017. David Blomquist begins his 10th season as the Cougars head coach. The Sept. 6 clash marks the first ever men's soccer meeting between SPU and Azusa.
 
Point Loma Nazarene (14-3-2 in 2017) -- Projected as preseason PacWest favorites, the Sea Lions return nine starters from the team that went 11-0-2 in PacWest play and earned their first NCAA Tournament berth. Point Loma ranked 11th nationally in shutouts (9) and 18th in goals against average (0.76) in 2017. Returning are All-PacWest honorees Jacob Eisenberg, Fabian Lueders and Matias Rodriguez along with All-America goalkeeper Wiktor Lasota. Sept. 8 marks the first meeting since 1995. The series is tied 1-1 with the Falcons winning 2-0 on the road in 1982 and Point Loma notching a 2-1 decision at SPU in 1995.
 
Coach Collings
Mark Collings enters his 11th season as head coach at his alma mater. He has directed Seattle Pacific to a 111-46-30 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 is the third head coach in the 51-year history of SPU men's soccer. Collings collected his third GNAC Coach of the Year award in 2015 (also 2010 & 2014). 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 as a defender on SPU's 1998 Final Four team, Collings was a five-year assistant coach for the Falcons.