SATURDAY, APRIL 10
Pacific Lutheran at Seattle Pacific
1:30.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash. (spectators not allowed)
 
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
Western Oregon at Seattle Pacific
3:00.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash. (spectators not allowed)
 
SATURDAY, APRIL 17
Western Oregon at Seattle Pacific
3:00.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash. (spectators not allowed)
 
• Webcast for all three games:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports
• LiveStats for all three games:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/spu/wsoc/
 
Seattle Pacific seeks to sustain his high-scoring ways as its season-opening five-game women's soccer homestand nears an end. The Falcons (2-0) play three more home contests before hitting the road. They host Pacific Lutheran (7-3) on Saturday, April 10 at 1:30 p.m. before Western Oregon (1-3) visits for back-to-back encounters on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17. Kick-off for both games is 3 p.m. at Interbay Stadium, which is not allowing spectators this season. SPU then visits Western Washington on April 24 at 4 p.m.
 
Throw-In
Seattle Pacific hasn't opened a season with three consecutive wins since 2015, which was also the last time the Falcons started with three straight shutouts.
 
Falcons Fodder
 

SPU has a pair of 4-0 home victories to its credit, against Puget Sound (Mar. 27) and Saint Martin's (Apr. 1). Sophia Chilczuk tallied two goals in each game and goalkeeper Riley Travis made two saves in both for a pair of clean sheets. Scoring inaugural collegiate goals for SPU were freshmen Mia Mahaffey and Lauren Forster.
 
Players of the Week
Sophia Chilczuk was honored as top offensive player for the second consecutive week and Ally Veenhuizen was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. Those two helped SPU notch its second straight 4-0 home victory, this time against league rival Saint Martin's on April 1. Chilczuk netted two goals in the March 27 season opener versus Puget Sound and matched that brace last week. She started the scoring in the 24th minute and her 59th-minute strike put the Falcons ahead 3-0. Chilczuk has scored 24 times during her SPU career, including seven multi-goal games. Veenhuizen helped the Falcons post their second consecutive clean sheet and distributed an assist. SPU limited the Saints to 10 shots, only two of them on goal. The sophomore defender picked up her first career point by initiating the Falcons second score, a 52nd-minute goal by Lauren Forster. Veenhuizen and the Falcons defense have yielded just 13 shots this season.

SOPHIA CHILCZUK 1ST GOAL (April 1)

Abbreviated Schedule
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced Jan. 8 that there would not be a league season so the Falcons fended for themselves in finding opponents. SPU will play fewer games than in any of its previous 19 seasons, with the least being 17 games in 2017 (10-7-0). There are currently 10 counting games scheduled, seven of them at home and three on the road. There may be additional games added with a possibility of games being postponed or cancelled if COVID issues arise.
 
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). Gellhaus and Neder are half of a midfield quartet that returns intact, joining with Makena Rietz and Taylor Menkens. Backed by goalkeeper Riley Travis, with her five shutouts and 1.04 goals against average, the defense surrendered just one goal per game. Mariah Alexander and Ava Giovanola return from that stingy backline. Seven talented freshmen and transfers Emmy Moore (Idaho) and Callie Rheaume (Hawaii Pacific) will compete for playing time.
 
This Week's Opponents
Pacific Lutheran (7-3-0) -- The Lutes close out their abbreviated spring season on Saturday at SPU. Their record does not include Saturday's (April 3) scoreless tie at Western Washington as it was an exhibition game. Ellie Johnson paces the PLU attack with three goals and one assist. The Lutes outscored opponents 12-6 and have shut out seven foes. Saturday marks the first ever regular-season meeting between PLU and SPU.
 
Western Oregon (1-3-0) -- The Wolves lone win was a 3-2 home decision on March 18 versus Saint Martin's. Western meets Humboldt State on April 11 before playing SPU twice. A trio of different players netted the three WOU goals, including Alyssa Tomasini, who topped the team with nine goals and seven assists last year. The Wolves won last year's first matchup 2-0, on Oct. 5, 2019 in Monmouth. That was WOU's first win over the Falcons since 2002, halting a 31-game series winless streak (0-30-1). SPU won the rematch, 2-1, in double overtime on Nov. 2 in Seattle and then notched a 4-1 victory on Nov. 14 in the GNAC Tournament semifinals to increased its series lead to 33-3-1.
 
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 51-31-8 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.
 
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.