SEATTLE – After opening the 2023 season at home, the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team travels to northern California for a pair of nonconference matches this weekend. On Thursday, the Falcons are in San Francisco to play SF State at 1 p.m. Then on Saturday, SPU takes on Chico State in Chico, Calif. at 7 p.m. 
  
QUOTABLE
"Our group is excited to hit the road together. We have two great opportunities against quality opponents that will challenge us. We've had a great couple of training sessions so far this week. We will need to reduce the number of goals conceded this weekend and do a better job of finishing games. But this is an amazing group of women, and they can't wait to play their next game together."– Head Coach Arby Busey
  
LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons hosted the SPU Kickoff Classic last weekend at Interbay Soccer Stadium. Cal Poly Humboldt, Central Washington, and Westminster all participated in the crossover-style tournament, with the Falcons and Wildcats playing the Griffins and Lumberjacks throughout the weekend. 
 
SPU opened its season against Westminster last Thursday. The fast-scoring Falcons took the match 3-2 over the Griffins. Goals from Jacqueline Blakeley, and Chloe Gellhaus, and an own goal led the way in a 3-2 win.
 
Landry Schoennauer made her first collegiate start for the Falcons last Thursday. She played the full 90 minutes, making three saves along the way.
 
Saturday's match between SPU and Cal Poly Humboldt had a thrilling finish. Unfortunately for the Falcons, it didn't go their way. The Lumberjacks recovered from a 3-1 deficit and scored the winning goal with two seconds left in the match. 
 
Sophie Beadle was excellent for the Falcons last Saturday. She led the offensive efforts with two assists in 60 minutes played. Blakeley scored her second goal in as many games to get the Falcons a quick 1-0 lead. 
 
Later, Lauren Forster scored, as the Falcons went 2-0 on another goal set up by Beadle. The goal was the 15th of Forster's career. 
 
Marissa Bankey capped the scoring efforts from the Falcons on Saturday. Taylor Krueger set Bankey up with a pass that led to a laser into the top left corner. 
 
STANDOUT STATISTICS
The Falcons were one of the best offensive teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Country. They scored six goals and accumulated 16 points. SPU is tied for 23rd and 26th in the nation respectively. Two assists per game have the Falcons tied for 26th in the country. SPU leads the GNAC in each of those areas. 
 
Several individuals had a tremendous opening weekend for the Falcons. Blakeley is tied for the conference lead in goals (2) and points (4). Beadle leads the GNAC in assists with two. She's tied for 11th in the country in assists as well. Schoennauer made 11 saves last weekend, six more than anyone else in the conference. 
 
ABOUT THE GATORS
The Gators are coming off a 4-9-5 2022 season. SF State was 2-5-4 in California Collegiate Athletic Association matches last season. That led to a 10th-place selection in this year's CCAA preseason poll. The Gators opened 2023 with a daunting road trip against #4 Colorado School of Mines and Regis. The Gators fell 4-0 and 3-0 to the Orediggers and the Rangers respectively. 
  
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats were strong in 2022, going 9-5-5 overall and 5-3-3 in conference play. The team landed in 5th place in this year's CCAA preseason poll. Chico State was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Top 25 poll. 
 
The defense should be the calling card for the Wildcats, with the return of two-time All-CCAA goalkeeper Emma Hofmann, first-team defender Nicole Fairbanks, and starters Klayre Barres and Emilia Kling. They will also have All-CCAA selection Brynn Howard back in the midfield.
 
Like the Gators, the Wildcats opened their season at Regis and #4 Colorado School of Mines. Chico beat the Rangers 2-1 before falling to the Orediggers 4-0.