THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Seattle Pacific at Sonoma State
4:00 p.m. PDT, Seawolf Soccer Field, Rohnert Park, Calif.
     • Webcast:  https://ccaanetwork.com/ssu/ 
     • LiveStats:  https://sonomaseawolves.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Seattle Pacific at Chico State
7:00 p.m. PDT, University Soccer Stadium, Chico, Calif.
     • No Webcast
     • LiveStats:  http://www.chicowildcats.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
Fall soccer returns for the Falcons! Seattle Pacific embarks on a two-game road trip to northern California, playing games in the traditional competitive window for the first time since Nov. 16, 2019. Newly installed interim head coach Kevin Sakuda and the Falcons commence the 2021 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Sonoma State with a 4:00 p.m. kick-off in Rohnert Park. SPU owns a 14-3-5 advantage in its series with the Seawolves. On Saturday, Sept. 4 at 7:00 p.m. the Falcons visit Chico State. SPU and the Wildcats met for 11 straight seasons before last year's unique circumstances prevented them from playing. This week's Falcons road games come less than four months after the conclusion of their abbreviated 2020-21 season that was moved to the spring due to the COVID outbreak. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference season and NCAA Division II Tournament that were cancelled last year, but will be contested this fall.

KEVIN SAKUDA INTERVIEW

Opening Act
The Falcons are winless in their last five season-opening games with two draws and three losses during that span. Two of the losses came versus Chico State (2017, 2018) and the two ties versus Sonoma State (2016, 2019). In last season's abbreviated spring session, SPU lost the opener 2-1 at home versus Saint Martin's, on March 24, 2021. Despite recent struggles, the Falcons own a 33-11-8 record in all-time season-opening contests.
 
Throw-Ins
• Kevin Sakuda is the fourth head coach in Seattle Pacific men's soccer history that dates back to 1968
 
• SPU implemented a different lineup in all five games last season and 23 different Falcons drew at least one start
 
• Nine players made their debut in an SPU uniform last season: Donovahn Allen, Evan Aune, Tyler Collings, Cade Cooke, Owen Gortner, Judah Johnston, Matt Samson, Joey Van Horn and Aidan Thrall
 
• SPU averaged two goals per game last season (12 in 6 games), hitting that mark for the first time since 2017
 
• Alden Massey and Tyler Speer each registered a two-goal game last season
 
• SPU's 3 game-winning goals came from different players: Alden Massey, Sam Malloch & Titus Grant
 
• Two Falcons earned a GNAC Player of the Week award: Tyler Speer (March 29) & Alden Massey (April 26)
 
Playoff Pursuit
The Falcons are vying for their 36th NCAA Division II Tournament berth. They participated in the playoffs five straight seasons from 2011-2015. SPU has won five national championships (1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 & 1993).
 
 

2021 Season Preview
Seattle Pacific, led by first-year coach Kevin Sakuda, was projected for a third-place finish by the GNAC preseason poll. The Falcons forged a 3-2-1 record in the abbreviated, pandemic-altered 2020-21 campaign that was conducted during the spring. Ten starters return from last year's SPU squad, including seven of the team's eight goal scorers. Alden Massey, Travis Swallow and Tyler Speer each netted two goals during the spring session. Senior forward Titus Grant returns after producing one goal and two assists. He was honored as a first-team All-GNAC selection in 2019 after topping the team with nine goals and seven assists. The entire backline returns intact, led by senior defenders Nik Reierson and Ed Weise, who have each been regular starters since arriving at SPU. Senior goalkeeper Lars Helleren returns for his fourth season between the posts.
 
This Week's Opponents
Sonoma State (0-0-0) -- The Seawolves open the season versus SPU with their first counting game since Nov. 9, 2019. The entire California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule for all sports was shut down during the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID outbreak. Sonoma is coached for the 30th season by Marcus Zeimer, who has amassed 344 career wins. SPU owns a 14-3-5 lead in the all-time series following a 1-1 draw in the last meeting, on Sept. 5, 2019 in Seattle.
 
Chico State (0-0-0) -- The Wildcats, who did not play last season due to the pandemic, host Western Washington on Thursday (Sept. 2) to open the current campaign. That will be their first game since Nov. 9, 2019, a span of 662 days without competing. Chico boasts an impressive 72-27-12 record at University Soccer Stadium since Felipe Restrepo took over the program in 2008. The Wildcats won the last three encounters with SPU to gain a 21-20-3 edge in the all-time series. The Wildcats were 2-0 home victors in the 2018 opener after winning 2-1 at SPU in 2017 and 3-2 at Chico in 2016. The teams met on September 7, 2019 at SPU's Interbay Stadium, but the game was suspended in the 35th minute and eventually cancelled due to persistent lightning in the Seattle area. The Falcons led 1-0 at the time on an eighth-minute header by Ed Weise off a Titus Grant corner kick.
 
Meet the Interim Coach
Kevin Sakuda begins his inaugural season at the helm, acting as the men's interim head coach after serving six seasons as the SPU women's assistant coach. He had a nine-year professional playing career, including six seasons with the USL version of the Seattle Sounders. A product of Mission San Jose (Calif.) High School, Sakuda lettered four years on the Duke University squad before graduating in 2002 with a psychology degree. He was selected by San Jose in the third round of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, the 39th pick overall. Sakuda made 148 appearances as a defender with the USL from 2003-08. He played with the Montreal Impact in 2009 and the Austin Aztex in 2009-10. He also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 2002-05 with the San Diego Sockers. Sakuda is the fourth head coach in the 54-year history of SPU men's soccer. He replaced Mark Collings, who compiled a 129-68-32 record in 13 seasons (2008-20) before departing to become an assistant at the University of Washington. Cliff McCrath coached the Falcons to a 512-190-87 mark over 38 seasons (1970-2007) and Arnie Aizstrauts was 1-14-1 from 1968-69.
 
Upcoming
SPU returns home to play two non-conference games, hosting Regis on Sept. 16 and Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 18. Both are 7:00 p.m. games at Interbay Stadium.