SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team is set to host the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend in Seattle at Interbay Soccer Stadium. The Falcons play Simon Fraser on Thursday at 7 p.m. with a chance to advance to the championship match on Saturday at 1 p.m.
QUOTABLE
"Getting to represent SPU in the GNAC Tournament is a special opportunity," head coach
Arby Busey said. "It is always our goal to earn the opportunity to play in the Conference Tournament, and this group of women has done exactly that. It is a grueling conference schedule that all teams must navigate, and ours did an amazing job of getting the results we needed to qualify. At this point, in the Conference Tournament, every team we would play has done the same, they have played great soccer to get here. The margins for error shrink and you will play teams that are confident and capable. We are excited about the challenge we will face on Thursday."
THE TOURNAMENT
This year's field features the same four teams that competed for the 2023 GNAC Championships title. All matches of the GNAC Championships will be streamed free of charge on the
GNAC YouTube channel online here, with GNAC Associate Commissioner for Communications Evan O'Kelly providing play-by-play commentary. Live statistics for all matches will be
available online here.
A complete history of the GNAC Women's Soccer Championships can be
viewed online here.
2024 GNAC Women's Soccer Championships
Nov. 14-16 | Interbay Stadium | Seattle, WA
Thursday, Nov. 14
4 p.m. – No. 4 seed Western Oregon vs. No. 1 seed Western Washington
7 p.m. – No. 3 seed Simon Fraser vs. No. 2 seed Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Nov. 16
1 p.m. – Championship Match
TICKETS
Tickets to the 2024 GNAC Women's Soccer Championships are now available for advance purchase at
www.GNACtickets.com. All tickets to the championship must be purchased through this ticket portal, whether purchased in advance or at the competition venue on game day. There will be no cash sales at the site.
TOURNAMENT TIME FOR THE FALCONS
The Falcons went 9-2-7 overall and 7-1-6 in conference play, racking up 27 points to finish tied for second in the conference standings. SPU carries a four-match unbeaten streak into the conference tournament. It marks the second time that the Falcons have hosted the event at Interbay Stadium after they hosted for the first time in 2019. SPU has advanced to all 11 GNAC Championships events since its inauguration in 2012. The Falcons have hoisted the championship trophy three times, winning back-to-back penalty-kick shootouts in 2013 and 2014 and grabbing their most recent tournament title in 2021.
THE FIELD
WESTERN WASHINGTON
Western Washington claimed its 10th GNAC regular-season title this fall with 36 points, going 12-2-5 overall and 11-0-3 in conference play. The Vikings went unbeaten in conference play for the sixth time overall and the first time since posting a perfect 12-0-0 league record in 2019. WWU, which received votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches top-25 rankings, brings a 14-match unbeaten streak into the conference tournament. WWU has appeared in all 11 GNAC Championships tournaments since the event was founded in 2012 and has the most tournament titles of any GNAC team with six. Its last tournament crown came in 2022 when the team went on to win its second NCAA Division II national title.
SIMON FRASER
Simon Fraser will look to repeat last year's postseason magic, as the Red Leafs stunned the Falcons and Vikings in succession to claim their first-ever GNAC title and NCAA Championships berth. SFU went 12-3-3 overall and 8-3-3 in conference play, totaling 27 points to finish tied for second in the GNAC standings. The Red Leafs settled for a draw Saturday, upping their unbeaten streak to six matches ahead of the conference tournament. Simon Fraser made it four years in a row qualifying for the GNAC Championships and earned its sixth berth overall after appearing in the 2018 and 2016 events. Last year's title run marked the first time SFU advanced past the semifinal round.
WESTERN OREGON
The Wolves made their second straight GNAC Championships tournament and their fifth in program history. WOU will be in search of its first GNAC title next week at Interbay Stadium. The Wolves clinched their tournament berth on Thursday and finished fourth in the GNAC standings with 23 points. WOU went 6-5-8 overall and 6-3-5 in conference play and is coming off a 1-0 win over Central Washington on Thursday and a 2-0 triumph against Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.
WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-GNAC TEAM
The GNAC Conference announced its women's soccer All-Conference team on Tuesday afternoon, with Seattle Pacific's
Taylor Krueger recognized as the GNAC Co-Player of the Year and seven Falcons receiving All-Conference honors.
Krueger has been a creator for the Falcons attack throughout 2024. She leads SPU with six goals, including a game-winner against Montana State University Billings on Nov. 26. She's tied for second in the GNAC in goals scored. Krueger's ability to find teammates has been incredible. She's racked up seven assists on the year and has the second-most in the GNAC. Krueger's total of 19 points is the second-most in the conference. Along with Co-Player of the Year honors, Krueger was a unanimous First Team selection.
Lauren Snedeker joined Krueger as a unanimous First Team All-GNAC selection.
Kathryn Nyone and Ashlyn Voldavinos were chosen as Second Team All-GNAC.
Nora Patterson,
Andie Buckley, and
Mercedes Cullen were named GNAC Honorable Mentions.
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