SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team faces tough travel and opponents this weekend. It starts on Thursday in Burnaby, B.C. against Simon Fraser at 6 p.m. Then the team takes on Montana State University Billings at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
QUOTABLE
"Conference games continue for us this week, and we head out on the road to face two teams coming off extremely successful weekends. They both have momentum and are playing great soccer right now. These games will be difficult and each team will present us with different challenges that we will need to work to solve. We will prepare for the games this week in training, and then enjoy the opportunity to compete together on Thursday and Saturday."– head coach Arby Busey.
GNAC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced its women's soccer All-Academic Team on Wednesday afternoon, featuring 15 Seattle Pacific women's soccer student-athletes.
To make the GNAC All-Academic team, nominees must have a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA on a 4.00 scale (based on GPA at the current institution). Nominees must be in their second season competing at the nominating institution. First-years, redshirt freshman, and transfers in their first year competing at your institution are not eligible. For graduate students, the undergraduate GPA must also meet the 3.2 minimum. Nominees must be on the roster for the complete season.
Maya Parman is one of nine GNAC women's soccer student-athletes with a 4.00 GPA. In total, 111 student-athletes earned honors. More than half are repeat selections with 23 second-year, 24 third-year, and eight fourth-year honorees. The eight four-year selections almost double the number of four-time honorees in GNAC history.
UNITED SOCCER COACHES NATIONAL TOP 25 POLL
The Falcons have climbed inside the top 25 in this week's United Soccer Coaches National Top poll. The team went from receiving votes a week ago to 24th in the nation. SPU is the only GNAC team in this week's poll.
LEADING THE GNAC
The Falcons lead the GNAC women's soccer standings. They are in sole possession of first place with a 4-0-2 conference record and 14 points to their name. Western Washington has moved into second place with a 3-1-2 GNAC record and 11 points.
STANDOUT STATISTICS
The Falcons have been the best offensive team in the conference throughout the 2023 season. They lead the league in goals, (24) assists, (18) and points (66). SPU's 66 points clear second-place Western Oregon by 23. Defensively, the Falcons have made 43 saves, the second most in the GNAC.
Jacqueline Blakeley has been the best offensive player in the conference this season. After two goals against Western Oregon last weekend, she leads the league with seven goals. She raised her point total to 16, the most in the GNAC.
Moira MacKay is tied for the most game-winning goals with three this season.
Sophie Beadle has created offense for the Falcons all season long. She's recorded five assists and leads the GNAC in the category.
ABOUT THE RED LEAFS
The Red Leafs were picked to finish fifth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. They're one spot higher and are just four points away from tying the Falcons for the top spot. They're 4-2-2 this year, with a 3-2-1 conference record. Simon Fraser has been an excellent defensive team this year. They've allowed .50 goals per game while scoring 1 goal per game.
The Red Leafs don't have a standout goal scorer, as six players have scored for them this season. Kate Cartier and Mikayla Tupper are tied for the most goals on the team with two each. Sarah Loewen has played all of the minutes in goal this season. She's faced 78 shots and has made 32 saves. Loewen has a save percentage of .889.
ABOUT THE YELLOWJACKETS
MSU Billings is 2-4-3 in 2023, with a 1-3-2 conference record. They're in seventh place in the conference entering this weekend's games. The Yellowjackets have allowed 2.22 goals per game while scoring 1.33 goals per game.
Kendall McGraw leads the Yellowjackets with three goals. Kaari Little and Erika Wilson have scored two goals each. Little leads the team in assists (3) and points (7). The Falcons beat the Yellowjackets 7-0 in their first meeting on Sept. 21 in Seattle.
