THURSDAY, APRIL 29
(#7) Seattle Pacific at Saint Martin's
3:00.m. PDT, Saints Field, Lacey, Wash. (spectators not allowed)
 
• Webcast:  https://www.youtube.com/c/SMUAthleticsYT
• LiveStats:  https://smusaints.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
 
SATURDAY, MAY 1
Central Washington at (#7) Seattle Pacific
3:00.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash. (spectators not allowed)
 
• Webcast:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports
• LiveStats:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/spu/wsoc/
 
The Falcons face a hectic slate by 2021 standards, but fairly standard by the traditional routine of Thursday-Saturday games against Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents. Though there is no 2021 league season, 7th-ranked Seattle Pacific (5-0-1) plays a pair of GNAC opponents this week, beginning on Thursday, April 29 at Saint Martin's (1-9-0). SPU has never lost in 25 all-time meetings with the Saints, including a 4-0 win on April 1 in Seattle. On Saturday, May 1, Central Washington (2-0-0) invades Interbay Stadium for a 3:00 p.m. clash. SPU won its last four encounters against the Wildcats, but the most recent took 1-minute, 54-seconds of overtime to post a 1-0 victory in Seattle on Oct. 19, 2019. Spectators are not allowed to attend SPU home games this season.

 

Offensive Outburst
The Falcons 26 goals mark their finest six-game scoring spree since the 2008 national championship team compiled 27 goals from Oct. 11 through Nov. 1. That stretch 12 years ago included nine- and six-goal barrages versus Northwest Nazarene, but also a one and two-goal output. No previous SPU squad netted four-or-more goals in six straight games as the current team accomplished. Seattle Pacific boasts five braces and six overall multi-goal games by individual players. Sophia Chilczuk has scored two goals on three occasions, Claire Neder twice and Chloe Gellhaus once.
 
Falcons Fast Facts
• SPU is undefeated through its first six games for the first time since the 2010 squad was also 5-0-1
 
• The Falcons rank No. 2 nationally in goals per game at 4.33, trailing only Grant Valley State (6.25)
 
• Sophia Chilczuk ranks No. 3 among NCAA Division II players with 1.60 goals per game (8 in 5 games)
 
• With 8 scores in 2021 Chilczuk has already matched her 8-goal totals that led the team in 2018 & 2019
 
• Ten different Falcons have scored a goal this season and four of them compiled four-or-more scores
 
• Makena Rietz has four goals in 2021, equaling her two-year career total entering this season
 
• After not yielding a goal in its first 11 halves this season, SPU allowed four in the second half Saturday
 
• SPU played 501-minutes, 40-seconds of scoreless defense before surrendering four goals in the next 38:04
 
• Three Falcons have collected four GNAC Player of the Week awards this year: Sophia Chilczuk (Mar. 29 & Apr. 5), Ally Veenhuizen (Apr. 5) and Claire Neder (Apr. 19)
 
Last Week
A game with three ties and three lead changes ended up in a 4-4 tie when SPU visited Western Washington on April 24. The Falcons went ahead 2-0 on goals by Chloe Gellhaus (12th minute) and Sophia Chilczuk (19) before WWU netted three unanswered goals to go ahead in the 74th minute. SPU reclaimed the lead on scores by Makena Rietz (75) and Mariah Alexander (78), but the Vikings forced overtime on Zola Carbone's goal with 16 seconds left in regulation. Estera Levinte tallied two goals for Western.

This Week's Opponents
Saint Martin's (1-9-0) -- The Saints have lost six straight games, the last three by shutout. That streak started with a 4-0 loss at Seattle Pacific on April 1. SMU's lone win was a 1-0 decision versus Western Oregon on March 25. Kiersten Madsen has accounted for three of the Saints eight goals this season. Goalkeeper Ali Campigotto played all 822 minutes between the posts, accumulating 55 saves and a 2.41 goals against average. The Falcons won all 25 previous meetings versus Saint Martin's. In the April 1 matchup Sophia Chilczuk netted two goals.
 
Central Washington (2-0-0) -- The Wildcats just started playing in April and have two wins over Saint Martin's to their credit. CWU was a 4-3 double-overtime victor on Apr. 10 in Ellensburg and won 2-0 on Apr. 24 in Lacey. Central's scoring came via six single goals from different players, including Grace Jackson who also has an assist. Megan Fox has played the most of three CWU goalkeepers and hasn't surrendered a goal in 102 minutes. The Falcons won the last four meetings to gain a 27-7-4 lead in the all-time series. SPU won last season's only matchup, on Oct. 19, 2019 in Seattle, a 1-0 overtime win on a golden goal by Megan Moore.
 
Coach Busey
Arby Busey is in his 15th year on the Seattle Pacific staff and his sixth as head coach. In 2019 he directed the Falcons to a 12-8-0 record and an appearance in the GNAC Tournament championship game. SPU placed second in the GNAC regular-season standings with a 9-3-0 league ledger. Busey has a 54-31-9 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.

2020-21 Season Preview
 

Eight starters return from the 2019 SPU team that outscored opponents 36-20 and advanced to the GNAC Tournament title game. The Falcons feature reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year Chloe Gellhaus, who compiled eight goals in 2019. She forms a potent attacking trio with first-team all-league forward Sophia Chilczuk (8 goals) and honorable mention pick Claire Neder (6). Starting midfielders Makena Rietz and Taylor Menkens also return. Backed by goalkeeper Riley Travis, with her five shutouts and 1.04 goals against average, the defense surrendered just one goal per game.
 
2019 Season Review
Seattle Pacific compiled a 12-8-0 record and a second-place finish in the final 2019 GNAC standings with a 9-3-0 league ledger. The defense notched seven shutouts and a 0.98 goals against average, including a mid-season stretch of 321 consecutive minutes without surrendering a score. The Falcons advanced to the GNAC Tournament championship game before falling, 2-1, to eventual West Region champion Western Washington. Chloe Gellhaus was honored as the GNAC Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-West Region honoree. Joining her on the GNAC first team were teammates Sophia Chilczuk and Asia Cayetano. Claire Neder, Makena Rietz and Riley Travis were honorable mention selections.