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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Seattle Pacific at Point Loma
4:30 p.m. PDT, PLNU Soccer Field, San Diego, Calif.
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Seattle Pacific vs. Cal Poly Pomona
11:00 a.m. PDT, PLNU Soccer Field, San Diego, Calif.
 
• Webcast & LiveStats for both games:  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/plnu/
 
A four-game road trip bridges the end of the non-conference schedule and the beginning of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play for the Seattle Pacific women's soccer squad. The Falcons (1-3-0) travel to San Diego, Calif. for their final non-league outings, both at PLNU Soccer Field. They clash with host Point Loma (2-1-0) on Thursday, Sept. 19 in a 4:30 p.m. matchup. Both teams were NCAA Division II Tournament qualifiers last season. On Saturday, Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. SPU has a neutral-site encounter with Cal Poly Pomona (2-2-0). The Falcons own a 3-1 lead in the series, including a 2-0 home win last year versus the Broncos. Next week SPU opens the GNAC slate on Sept. 26 at Northwest Nazarene.
 
Falcons Fast Fact
Junior midfielder Claire Neder has accounted for both SPU goals, one of them from the run of play (Sept. 7) and one of them from the penalty spot (Sept. 12).


 
Last Week
The Falcons split a pair of home games last week. They beat Biola 1-0 on Sept. 12, getting a ninth-minute penalty kick from Claire Neder after Sierra Smith was fouled in the box. That sustained SPU's unbeaten record in home-opening games, improving to 17-0-2 in all-time inaugural outings at Interbay Stadium. The Falcons fell 1-0 versus Sonoma State on Sept. 14 after surrendering a score in the 34th minute. The shot count (12-12), and the run of play, were even. SPU goalkeeper Riley Travis made four fine saves.
 
Throw-Ins
SPU has been outscored 4-2 on the season despite outshooting opponents by a 51-39 margin (20-17 in shots on goal) ... The Falcons implemented the same opening lineup in all four games and four of those players had never started for SPU prior to this season (Mariah Alexander, Chloe Gellhaus, Ava Giovanola, Sierra Smith).
 
2019 Season Preview
Six starters return from the NCAA playoff team that outscored opponents 40-19 in 2018. That's a fine foundation for the Falcons to build upon, but there are some holes to fill as less than half (18 of 40) of last season's goals were netted by returning players. The Falcons lost their second- and third-leading scorers in Kasey Reeve (7 goals) and Julia DeVere (4), the GNAC Defender of the Year who distributed a team-high seven assists. Heading the list of SPU's offensive returnees is junior forward Sophia Chilczuk, who topped the team with eight goals in 2018 en route to second-team All-West Region accolades. She had five game-winning strikes. Senior midfielder Megan Moore was a third-team all-region recipient with three goals and six assists to her credit. Junior midfielder Claire Neder chipped in three goals and three assists. The senior duo of Megan Nielsen and Asia Cayetano returns after starting every game last season on the back line. The defense is supported by sophomore goalkeeper Riley Travis, who posted five of the team's eight shutouts while compiling an outstanding 1.08 goals against average. Seven talented freshmen and MSU Billings transfer Samea Aljundi will vie for playing time.
 
2018 Season Review
The SPU women returned to the NCAA playoffs in 2018 after a one-year absence. The Falcons fashioned a 12-6-2 overall record and tied for third in the GNAC standings with an 8-3-1 mark. They outscored opponents 40-19 led by the eight goals of Sophia Chilczuk. Departing seniors accounted for 22 goals with seven of them from Kasey Reeve and four from All-American defender Julia DeVere, who topped the team with seven assists. DeVere was voted the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and was joined on the all-conference team by teammates Chilczuk, Reeve, Megan Moore, Riley Travis, Makayla Sonstelie and Kaytlin Willis. The Falcons defense surrendered less than one score per game (0.92 goals against average), backed by goalkeeper Travis, who collected a school-record 16 saves in her second collegiate start, Sept. 6 at Chico State.

 

This Week's Opponents
Point Loma (2-1-0) -- The Sea Lions are coming off a 16-2-1 campaign during which they were undefeated (10-0-1) PacWest Conference champions. They advanced to the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Point Loma lost its 2019 opener to Cal Poly Pomona, 2-0, before defeating Dixie State, 2-0, and Cal State L.A., 2-1. The Sea Lions benefitted from two CSULA own goals in that last game. Julia Glaser and Rachel Carrell each have a goal to lead PLNU. Goalkeeper Emma Hinson posted one shutout and has a 1.00 goals against average. Thursday marks the second ever meeting, and the Falcons won 3-0 at Point Loma on Sept. 7, 2013 in the first matchup.
 
Cal Poly Pomona (2-2-0) -- The Broncos opened the season with a 2-0 victory at Point Loma, then lost to Concorda-Irvine and UC-Colorado Springs before beating Metro State, 1-0. Three different Broncos each have one goal, Amanda Duran, Ambria Pogue and Taylor Scott. Goalkeepers Sydney Williams and Clarissa Sanchez combined for two shutouts and a 0.49 goals against average. SPU owns a 3-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 2-0 home victory over the Broncos in last year's season opener. The Falcons won the first two meetings in the series, 4-0 at home in 2004 and 5-0 at Pomona in 2005 before Pomona notched a 2-1 overtime win at home in 2017.
 
Coach Busey
Arby Busey is in his 14th year on the Seattle Pacific staff and his fifth as head coach. In 2018, he directed the Falcons to a 12-6-2 record and a third-place tie in the GNAC standings (8-3-1) en route to an NCAA Tournament berth. He has a 38-26-8 record at SPU, a ledger that doesn't include 10 wins from 2015 that were vacated due to the use of an ineligible player. SPU advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs in Busey's first two seasons at the helm and again last year. From his assistant post from 2006-14, Busey helped the Falcons to an impressive 95-30-12 record and playoff appearances each year. SPU won the 2008 NCAA Division II championship and reached the 2007 national semifinals. He is a 1993 graduate of Villanova and was the Idaho head coach from 2002-04 where he had an 8-40-7 record.
 
GNAC Tournament
Seattle Pacific's Interbay Stadium will host the 2019 GNAC Women's Soccer Tournament. Semifinal games are slated for 4 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 with the winners meeting in the championship game on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. The champion receives the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
Next Week
The Seattle Pacific women start GNAC play with two road contests. They visit Nampa, Idaho to clash with Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time before traveling to Lacey, Wash. for a 3 p.m. game at Saint Martin's.