SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team travels north for two road matches this weekend, starting with Simon Fraser on Thursday at 5 p.m. followed by a meeting with Western Washington on Saturday at 4 p.m.
WHAT'S THE STORY THIS WEEK
The Falcons are rolling right now.
Last weekend, SPU enjoyed solid performances in front of their home fans at Interbay Stadium. They knocked down Western Oregon 2-1 last Thursday, before handing Saint Martin's 3-1 on Saturday. Jacqueline Blakeley was superb all weekend, as her two goals and one assist earned her GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
SPU has established itself as a strong contender in the conference. They rank third in goals with 13 this season and lead the conference in assists with 14. Defensively, they're tied for second most in the GNAC with three shutouts.
The Falcons turn their attention to a tough road trip. They'll travel north of the border to play a Simon Fraser on Thursday. The Falcons swept the season series a year ago, taking a 2-0 victory at home before shutting them out 3-0 at their place.
Then on Saturday, The Falcons visit Western Washington in a match that could be a postseason preview. The two teams played four times last year, with two of those matches happening in the postseason. SPU beat WWU 4-0 in the GNAC Championship match and took a 2-1 victory in West Region Final.
There is plenty to be excited about for the Falcons entering the weekend. The team is playing well and gets to take on the challenges of playing on the road. Recent history coupled with preseason expectations could create some added intensity as well. The action unfolds this weekend in Burnaby and Bellingham.
SCOUTING THE SIMON FRASER RED LEAFS (1-3-4, 0-2-2 GNAC)
The Red Leafs landed fifth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing fourth in the conference a season ago. They were known for their defense last year, as returning goalkeeper Kelsey Fisher racked up 50 saves in 2021.
After two weekends of conference play, the Red Leafs have yet to pick up a conference win. Last time out, they scrapped with Central Washington to a 3-3 draw. A week prior, they worked a scoreless draw against Saint Martin's. Their lone win came on the first day of the season when they took down MSU Denver 1-0.
SFU has allowed 13 goals so far this season. Nicole Anderson and Sarah Loewen have split time between the posts for the Red Leafs. Loewen leads the duo with 18 saves and a .783 save percentage. Kira Buono and Kaylese Callender lead the Red Leafs with two goals each. Three other players have scored one goal each.
SCOUTING THE WESTERN WASHINGTON VIKINGS (4-1-3, 3-0-1 GNAC)
The Vikings trailed the Falcons by just one point in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. They finished 2021 15-5-3, 10-3-1 in GNAC play, and advanced into the NCAA West Regional Final, where they lost to the Falcons 2-1.
The Vikings have been strong early in the season, scoring three goals in each of their GNAC victories. The team blanked Central Washington 3-0 last Thursday before drawing even with Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. WWU hosts MSU Billings on Thursday before meeting the Falcons on Saturday.
Morgan Manalili and Claire Potter are tied with a team-high three goals. Ellie Busik is the only other Viking with multiple goals, while the team has six other players who have scored once. WWU ranks second in the conference to NNU with 14 goals. They follow the Falcons with the second most assists in the conference with 11.
