SEATTLE – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference season begins this weekend for the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team. They open against Montana State University Billings on Thursday at 2 p.m. before hosting the 2022 national champions in Western Washington on Saturday at 5 p.m. Both matches are at Interbay Soccer Stadium.
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"As we begin conference play, we know the new challenges these familiar opponents will provide. Conference teams have played each other often in the past. There is a history between the teams, and that presents different challenges than nonconference games. We felt good about how we played in our nonconference opportunities and are hoping to continue that this weekend at home. We know both opponents we face will be well prepared and ready for us. We hope to get off to a great start in GNAC play."- Head Coach Arby Busey
FALCONS SWEEP GNAC WEEKLY AWARDS
The Falcons earned recognition from the GNAC for having the best team, offensive and defensive players of the week on Monday.
After beating second-ranked Colorado School of Mines on Saturday, the SPU women's soccer team was named the GNAC team of the week. The Falcons traveled to Golden, Colo. to take on #2 Colorado School of Mines last Saturday. SPU answered their toughest challenge of the young 2023 season with a 2-1 victory over the Orediggers.
Taylor Krueger played a major role in SPU's victory over Mines. SPU trailed 1-0 before Krueger leveled the match in the 36th minute. The goal was the first of her career. In the second half, Kruger assisted what went on to be the game-winner.
At the final whistle, Krueger had a part in each goal of a 2-1 victory over the second-ranked team in the country. She was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for her outstanding performance.
The Falcons got everything they could have hoped for out of their defense last Saturday. Kathryn Nyone, Landrey McCann, and Mackenzie Aiken stood firm for Cullen. Saturday was Cullen's first start in goal for the Falcons of 2023.
Cullen was superb for SPU. She played the full 90 minutes in goal, faced 17 shots, and made seven saves throughout the game. Cullen touted a .875 save percentage against Mines.
BREAKOUT FOR BUCKLEY
Andie Buckley had as big of a moment as anyone over the weekend. Her first career goal came as the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over second-ranked Colorado School of Mines. Buckley went on to be named SPU Athletics Falcon of the Week.
STANDOUT STATISTICS
The Falcons continue to establish themselves as one of the best offensive teams in the GNAC. They lead the conference in points (23) and goals (9) and are second in assists with five.
SPU features a few individuals at or near the top in a few categories. Sophie Beadle and Taylor Krueger are tied for third in assists with two each. Jacqueline Blakeley's four points and two goals tie for the second most in the conference in both areas. Landry Schoennauer still leads the league in saves with 14.
ABOUT THE YELLOWJACKETS
The Yellowjackets were selected for an eighth-place finish in the GNAC preseason coaches poll. MSUB is one of two teams to enter the season with a first-year head coach. Abiye Jack was elevated from an assistant to the head coach of the Yellowjackets. The Yellowjackets finished last season seventh in the GNAC with a 3-9-2 record (3-12-4 overall).
Six starters return to the Yellowjackets for the 2023 season. They're led by First Team All-GNAC selection Clare Keenan. She accumulated 102 saves last season, averaging 6.80 per game. Jackie Sharpe leads the offense into 2023. She tallied two goals and two assists last season while starting all 19 of the Yellowjackets' matches. Jillian Hust also returns for Montana State Billings after netting two goals in 14 starts last season.
The Yellowjackets are 1-1-1 so far in 2023. On Sept. 14, they took down Black Hills State 2-1. Kendall McGraw and Erika Wilson scored goals for MSUB. They open conference play against the Falcons before hosting Simon Fraser on Saturday.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
Western Washington was selected to win the GNAC in this year's preseason poll. The reigning national champions return nine starters from the 2023 season. The Vikings went 11-1-2 in conference play last year (19-2-4 overall) en route to winning the program's ninth GNAC title. WWU capped its season with its second national title in program history last December, defeating West Chester 2-1 in Seattle.
2022 GNAC Freshman of the Year Morgan Manlili will look to pick up right where she left off last season. Manalili led Western Washington and the GNAC in scoring last year with 10 goals and five assists for 25 points through 25 matches. Four of those goals came in the postseason.
Claire Potter also returns to the Vikings after a heroic 2022. Potter amassed five goals and four assists to finish the season eighth in the GNAC with 14 points. Potter's highlight of the season came in the NCAA Final where she assisted on the Vikings' opening goal before scoring the game-winner in the 83rd minute.
The Vikings veteran goalkeeper Claire Henninger returns for her fifth season between the pipes. Henninger was one of the top goalkeepers in the nation last year, leading the GNAC and ranking No. 12 in Division II with a 0.54 goals against average.
The Vikings are 2-2-1 early in the 2023 season. WWU has played a loaded nonconference schedule, facing three teams inside the top 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll at the time of the match. They're coming off a weekend in which they fell to then second-ranked Colorado School of Mines 2-0 before drawing 0-0 with Sonoma State.
