WEDNESDAY, MAY 12
Western Washington at (#7) Seattle Pacific
7:30.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
(spectators not allowed)
     • Webcast:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports
     • LiveStats:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/spu/wsoc/
 
SATURDAY, MAY 15
(#7) Seattle Pacific at Central Washington
2:00.m. PDT, Tomlinson Stadium, Ellensburg, Wash.
(spectators not allowed)
     • Webcast:  http://www.youtube.com/c/cwuathletics
     • LiveStats:  https://wildcatsports.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
 
A pair of rematches this week versus Northwest women's soccer rivals completes the unique 2021 spring season for seventh-ranked Seattle Pacific. The undefeated Falcons (7-1) host unbeaten Western Washington (3-0-2) on Wednesday, May 12. Kick-off is 7:30 p.m. at Interbay Stadium where spectators are not allowed. In this year's first meeting, Western and SPU played to a 4-4 draw. They each have an NCAA Division II title to their credit, SPU in 2008 and Western in 2016. The Vikings have not lost to SPU since a 1-0 home defeat on Oct. 27, 2012, posting a 17-0-4 series record since then. On Saturday, May 15 the Falcons conclude the campaign in Ellensburg at Central Washington (2-2-0). SPU won its last five encounters versus the Wildcats, including a 5-2 victory on May 1 in Seattle.
 
Offensive Outburst
 

The Falcons 35 goals mark the finest eight-game scoring spree in program history, eclipsing the 34 goals the 2008 national championship team compiled from Oct. 1-Nov. 1. That stretch 12 years ago included nine- and six-goal barrages versus NNU, but also a one and two-goal output. No previous SPU squad netted four-or-more goals in eight straight games as the current team accomplished. SPU boasts braces in seven games and nine overall multi-goal games from players. Both Sophia Chilczuk and Claire Neder scored two goals on three occasions, Chloe Gellhaus twice and Sophie Beadle once.
 
Throw-Ins
• The Falcons rank No. 2 nationally in goals per game at 4.38, trailing only Grand Valley State (4.50)
 
• SPU is undefeated through its first eight games for the first time since the 2010 squad was also 7-0-1 before losing in Game 9. The 2009 Falcons went undefeated through 10 games and the 2007 squad reeled off 23 consecutive victories to start the season
 
• Sophia Chilczuk ranks No. 2 among NCAA D-II players in goals (9) and 3rd in goals per game (1.29)
 
• With 9 scores in 2021 Chilczuk has already topped her 8-goal totals that led the team in 2018 & 2019
 
• Ten different Falcons have scored a goal this season and five of them compiled three-or-more scores
 
• After not yielding a goal in its first 11 halves this season, SPU allowed four in the second half at Western Wash. on April 24. Those four, and two vs. CWU (May 1), are the only goals SPU has allowed
 
• SPU played 501-minutes, 40-seconds of scoreless defense before allowing four goals in the next 38:04 at WWU
 
• Four Falcons have collected five GNAC Player of the Week awards this year: Sophia Chilczuk (March 29 & April 5), Ally Veenhuizen (April 5), Claire Neder (April 19) and Sophie Beadle (May 3)
 
Previous Matchups
 

A game featuring three ties and three lead changes ended up in a 4-4 tie when SPU visited Western Washington on April 24. The Falcons claimed a 2-0 halftime lead on goals by Chloe Gellhaus (12th minute) and Sophia Chilczuk (19th) before WWU netted three unanswered tallies to go ahead in the 74th minute. Those were the first goals the Falcons had allowed, halting a streak of 11 scoreless halves by the stingy defense. SPU reclaimed the lead on scores by Makena Rietz (75th) and Mariah Alexander (78th), but the Vikings forced overtime when Zola Carbone scored with 16 seconds left in regulation. Estera Levinte tallied two goals for Western. In their last outing, on May 1 in Seattle, the Falcons registered a 5-2 victory over Central Washington. Freshman Sophie Beadle opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but the Wildcats equalized in the 18th. SPU reeled off four unanswered goals to gain control. Beadle finished with two goals and Gelhaus also banked a brace. Alexander, a central defender, netted her second goal of the season.
 
This Week's Opponents
Western Washington (3-0-2) -- The Vikings are unbeaten through five games, including a season-opening scoreless draw versus Pacific Lutheran (Apr. 3). WWU won two straight, including a 1-0 win at Central Washington on May 8 in their last outing. A trio of Vikings are tied for the team lead with two goals apiece, led by Estera Levinte who also has two assists. A quartet of goalkeepers have combined for four shutouts and a 0.73 goals against average. SPU's four scores account for the only goals the Vikings have surrendered. Travis Connell, a four-year SPU men's soccer letterman (1991-95), is in his 18th year and owns WWU's all-time mark with 264 coaching wins. WWU leads the all-time series 21-18-7 and has not lost to the Falcons since Oct. 27, 2012, covering a span of 21 games during which Western went 17-0-4. The Vikings swept all three meetings in 2019, winning the regular-season matchups 3-0 on Oct. 24 in Bellingham and 2-0 on Nov. 7 in Seattle. WWU won the GNAC Tournament championship with a 2-1 decision against the Falcons, on Nov. 16 in Seattle. That was the Vikings 13th consecutive victory over SPU, a streak that was stopped by the 4-4 draw on April 24 in Bellingham.
 
Central Washington (2-2-0) -- After opening with two wins in April, the Wildcats are winless in two May outings, capped by a 1-0 home loss to Western Washington. Makinzie Packwood tops the team with two goals, both of them scored on May 1 at Seattle Pacific. Three CWU goalkeepers combined for five saves per game and a 2.18 goals against average. The Falcons won the last five meetings to gain a 28-7-4 lead in the all-time series. SPU won last season's only matchup, on Oct. 19, 2019 in Seattle, a 1-0 overtime win. The Falcons were 5-2 victors on May 1 in Seattle behind two goals apiece from Sophie Beadle and Chloe Gellhaus.

 

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 56-31-9 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.
 
Abbreviated Schedule
The GNAC announced Jan. 8 that there would not be a league season so Seattle Pacific designed its own schedule. Because of this, the Falcons will play their fewest games with 10 of them scheduled. Just three times has SPU played less than 20 women's soccer games, including their first two seasons (2001 & 2002) with 19 games. SPU's shortest season was a 17-gamer in 2017.
 
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.