THIS WEEK'S WOMEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28
Saint Martin's at (#4) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30
Western Oregon at (#4) Seattle Pacific
2:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash. -- Senior Day
 
       • Webcast for both games:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports
       • LiveStats for both games:  https://spufalcons.comsidearmstats/wsoc/
       • Buy Tickets in Advance:  https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/spufalcons/6750
 
The final women's soccer homestand for fourth-ranked Seattle Pacific begins this week. The first-place Falcons (11-1-1, 8-1-1 GNAC) host Saint Martin's on Thursday, Oct. 28 for a 7:00 p.m. matchup at Interbay Stadium. SPU has never lost in 27 all-time meetings with the Saints (3-11-0, 2-8-0). On Saturday, Oct. 30, the Falcons seek to avenge their lone loss when Western Oregon visits. The Wolves (5-7-2, 4-4-2) were 1-0 overtime victors in the first meeting, getting a 96th-minute golden goal from Lilly Nowatzke on Sept. 30 in Monmouth. Despite one more home game to play, on Nov. 4, this Saturday (Oct. 30) has been designated as Senior Day and nine Falcons will be recognized with a pregame ceremony. The GNAC season and NCAA Division II playoffs that were cancelled last year will be contested this fall. SPU seeks a return to the NCAAs for the first time since 2018 after narrowly missing a berth in 2019 and no playoffs being contested last season.
 
Senior Salute
The following nine SPU seniors nearing the end of their collegiate careers will be honored Saturday: Mariah Alexander, Samea Aljundi, Abbie Anderson, Sophia Chilczuk, Ava Giovanola, Madison Ibale, Taylor Menkens, Claire Neder and Riley Travis. They helped the Falcons compile a 53-22-4 record during the last five seasons.

Interbay Stadium Entry Policy
Fans are welcome to attend games in person at Interbay Stadium. In compliance with King County guidelines, spectators 12-years-of-age and older attending SPU athletic events will need to provide proof of full vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 test. Before purchasing or picking up tickets at venue Will Call windows, attendees will be required to show evidence of vaccination. Acceptable forms of proof include a CDC-issued Vaccination Record Card, a photo of the card, the Washington state myIRmobile.com app or a document from a health care provider. Those who cannot provide proof of vaccination may instead present documentation of a negative FDA-approved COVID-19 test administered by a professional and dated within 72 hours of the event. For additional details, please click on the SPU ATHLETICS ENTRY POLICY webpage. Mask wearing is mandatory at all times and spectators are encouraged to social distance when possible. Save the wait in line and obtain your SPU soccer tickets in advance by purchasing them online the SPU TICKETS webpage.
 
Explosive Offense
SPU is outscoring opponents by a lopsided 37-3 margin. The Falcons top the GNAC in goals (37), goal average (2.85 per game), assists (37) and points per game (8.54). They boast five multi-goal games by three individuals, with braces from Lauren Forster (Sept. 23 & Oct. 14), Makena Rietz (Oct. 2 & 23) and AJ DePinto (Sept. 25). Rietz and Forster sit atop the GNAC leaderboard with seven goals apiece. Sophia Chilczuk (10) and Claire Neder (6) rank one-two among GNAC assist leaders.
 
Super Sophia
Senior forward Sophia Chilczuk leads all NCAA Division II players with 0.83 assists per game. Her 10 assists are the highest season total by a Falcon since 2011. She tied the school single-game record with three assists at Simon Fraser (Oct. 23), a feat achieved five times by former Falcons. Chilczuk ranks second among all-time SPU players in career assists (27), and is fifth in both goals (34) and total points (95).
 
SOPHIA CHILCZUK GOAL (Oct. 21, 2021)

Falcons Fast Facts
• The Falcons No. 4 national ranking is their loftiest poll position since being No. 4 on October 19, 2009.
 
• Riley Travis leads NCAA D-II goalkeepers in goals against average (0.19) & save percentage (93.9%).
 
• SPU is outscoring opponents by a 37-3 margin and leads the nation in shutout percentage (76.9%).
 
• The Falcons have conceded just 20 corner kicks (1.5 per game) while earning 84 themselves (6.5).
 
• SPU erupted for 7 goals at CWU (Oct. 14), its highest single-game scoring output since Oct. 17, 2009.
 
 

Player of the Week
Makena Rietz, who scored three times including both game-winning goals that sparked a pair of GNAC road wins by the same 3-0 score, received the GNAC women's soccer Offensive Player of the Week award on Monday. Her goal just 51 seconds into the Oct. 21 contest started the Falcons on their way to a triumph that stopped Western Washington's 32-game home win streak. SPU leap-frogged the Vikings in the GNAC standings to claim first place. At Simon Fraser (Oct. 23) Rietz struck twice during the opening 17 minutes, scoring at 7:17 and adding another goal exactly nine minutes later. The senior midfielder netted the three goals on just four total shots. Rietz has seven goals this season, tying for the GNAC lead with teammate Lauren Forster. Her five game-winning goals also top the league. Rietz has 15 career goals with seven game-winners.
 
This Week's Opponents
Saint Martin's (3-11-0, 2-8-0) -- The Saints lost their last seven games, having been shutout in four of them. Maddie Wolff tops the team with three goals. The goalkeeping tandem of Ali Campigotto and Sophie Mendoza combined for three clean sheets and a 1.57 goals against average. The Falcons won all 27 previous meetings versus Saint Martin's, including a 3-0 victory on Oct. 2 in Lacey behind two Makena Rietz goals.
 
Western Oregon (5-7-2, 4-4-2) -- The Wolves won two of their last three games. Lilly Nowatzke paces the attack with four goals. Keepers Darlen Walton, Emily Wheeler and Olivia Holdenried combined for three shutouts and a 1.38 goals against average. SPU owns a 35-4-1 series lead and posted four straight victories before the Wolves won the last meeting, 1-0 on Sept. 30 in Monmouth, on a Nowatzke golden goal.
 
Positive Poll Projection
Seattle Pacific was picked first in the preseason GNAC coaches poll, and for good reason. Coach Arby Busey returns all 11 starters from last season's squad that outscored opponents 39-7. The Falcons forged an 8-0-1 record in the shortened 2020-21 campaign and were ranked No. 5 in the final national poll.
 
Coach Busey
Arby Busey is in his 16th year on the Seattle Pacific staff and his seventh as head coach. In the abbreviated 2020-21 season, he directed the Falcons to an 8-0-1 record and No. 5 final ranking. Busey has a 68-32-10 record at SPU, a mark 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 in 2018. From his assistant post from 2006-14, Busey helped the Falcons to an impressive 95-30-12 record and playoff appearances each season. SPU won the 2008 NCAA Division II championship and reached the 2007 national semifinals during his tenure. He is a 1993 graduate of Villanova and was the Idaho head coach from 2002-04 where he had an 8-40-7 record.
 
Next Week
The SPU women play their final regular-season home game, on Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m. versus Central Washington, before closing out the schedule on Nov. 6 with a 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time visit to Northwest Nazarene.