THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
(#22) Regis at (#11) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Colorado School of Mines at (#11) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, University Soccer Stadium, Chico, Calif.
 
• Webcast for both games:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports
• LiveStats for both games:  https://spufalcons.comsidearmstats/msoc/
• Buy Tickets in Advance:  https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/spufalcons/6750
 
For the first time in 674 days, the 11th-ranked Seattle Pacific men's soccer team will play in front of spectators at Interbay Stadium. The last men's home game allowing attendance was on November 9, 2019, a 4-2 SPU win over Saint Martin's. Falcons fans will have two opportunities to watch their team in person this week. SPU (2-0-0) entertains 22nd-ranked Regis University (3-0-0) from Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 18, Colorado School of Mines (3-1-0) visits Seattle for a 7 p.m. contest. Those games could have major playoff implications under the Super Regional format implemented for NCAA Division II Tournament selection in which the West and South Central regions are combined. The Falcons played four home games in front of empty stands during the 2020-21 season that was moved to the spring and abbreviated due to the COVID outbreak. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference season and NCAA Division II Tournament that were cancelled last year will be contested this fall.

Ticket Talk
Get your SPU soccer tickets in advance by purchasing them online at:  https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/spufalcons/6750   Tickets for SPU soccer games can also be purchased on game day at Interbay Stadium (3027 17th Ave. W., Seattle 98119). Ticket windows open one hour prior to kickoff. All seats are general admission and priced at $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens. SPU students and staff are admitted free. Groups or teams of 10 or more may qualify for reduced ticket rates by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

Recent Recap
The SPU men started the season with a pair of road wins, beginning with a 2-1 triumph at Sonoma State (Sept. 2). Alex Mejia netted a goal early in each half to give interim head coach Kevin Sakuda a victory in his debut. Goalkeeper Lars Helleren, who was honored as the Sept. 7 GNAC Defensive Player of the Week, snared nine saves and followed up with seven at Chico State (Sept. 4). Titus Grant headed home the lone score eight minutes into overtime at Chico, netting a golden goal that lifted SPU to a 1-0 win.
 
Throw-Ins
• The two-goal game in the season opener gave senior forward Alex Mejia his second career brace. He previously tallied twice in a Nov. 14, 2019 contest at Montana State. Mejia has 12 career goals.
 
• Lars Helleren was named the Sept. 7 GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after making 16 saves in two wins.
 
• The Game 2 clean sheet matched the Falcons total from the last two years combined. They didn't have a shutout last season and blanked one opponent in 2019. They haven't had more than 2 shutouts in a season since 2015.
 
• Kevin Sakuda is the fourth head coach in Seattle Pacific men's soccer history that dates back to 1968.
 
• Two players have made their debut in an SPU uniform this season: Demian Alvarez and Aaron Stapleton.
 
 

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.
 
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).
 
Next Week
The Falcons take flight for a three-game road trip to close out their non-league slate, visiting Hawaii-Hilo (Sept. 22), Chaminade (Sept. 25) and Hawaii Pacific (Sept. 27).
 
This Week's Opponents
#22 Regis (3-0-0) -- The 22nd-ranked Rangers opened with a 5-0 home win over GNAC competitor Saint Martin's on Sept. 5 before picking up a pair of 2-1 decisions, over Colorado Mines and Fort Lewis. Ethan Willlson leads the offense with two goals and an assist. Goalkeeper Cooper Erickson has one shutout and a 0.85 goals against average. SPU owns a 6-1-1 lead in the all-time series despite dropping the most recent encounter, 3-1, on Sept. 15, 2010 in Denver.
 
Colorado School of Mines (3-1-0) -- The Orediggers, from Golden, Colorado, were ranked No. 7 in last week's national poll before dropping out this week due to a 2-1 loss at Regis (Sept. 8). Mines has three wins to its credit, over GNAC member Saint Martin's (2-1), St. Mary's (3-1) and Fort Lewis (2-0). The Orediggers lead the all-time series 2-1-0 after notching a 1-0 home victory on Sept. 13, 2019 in last meeting. The Falcons were victorious in the only Seattle matchup with a 3-0 decision on Oct. 9, 1998.
 
 

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.
 
2020-21 Season Review
The Falcons completed the unique 2021 spring season with a 3-2-1 record. Due to the pandemic, the traditional 2020 fall season was vacated. Results and statistics from the spring season are official and count for record purposes, but there were no season-ending NCAA playoffs and the GNAC did not conduct a league schedule.