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Mason Hrcek

Women's Soccer

Falcons Start GNAC Play This Weekend

SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this weekend with two road matches against familiar opponents. The Falcons play Montana State University Billings on Thursday at 1 p.m. followed by a showdown with Western Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
QUOTABLE
"Conference play is always fun and challenging," head coach Arby Busey said. "Familiar opponents that we know will draw out the best in each other. It's a tough draw opening on the road against two difficult opponents. MSUB has had a great nonconference and looks to be firing on all cylinders right now. And then Saturday, going to WWU is a massive undertaking and a tough place to get results. We are hoping to prepare ourselves well this week and head out on the road where we have played well thus far this season."
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons played their first home matches on Sept. 12 and Sept. 14. SPU fell to Hawaii Hilo before tying with Chico State 2-2. Kayla Wallace and Moira MacKay scored goals against the Wildcats. Natalie Boles and Ashlyn Valdovinos had chances for the Falcons in the final 10 minutes, but neither went in for the win.
 
HIGH FLYIN' FALCONS
The Falcons offense has been stellar throughout the opening weekends of the season. They're tied with the Yellowjackets with a GNAC-best 11 goals in 2024. Wallace has been a force offensively for the Falcons. She leads the conference with five goals in four games. Three of those goals were scored against Cal Poly Humboldt on Sept. 7. MacKay is tied for second in the league with three goals this season.
 
ON THE NATIONAL RADAR
Wallace's offensive outburst has put her near the top of the national leaderboard early in 2024. Wallace has scored five goals in four games, for an average of 1.25 goals per game. That's the third-best average in the nation. She's averaging 2.5 points per game, tied for fifth-best in the country.
 
As a team, the Falcons are averaging 6.75 points per game. That's 30th best in the country. They're tied for 16th in the country in scoring offense with 2.75 goals per game. MSUB also shares 16th in the nation in that category.
 
ABOUT MSU BILLINGS
The Yellowjackets were voted seventh in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Head coach Abiye Jack led the team to a 4-10-3 record in his first season. MSUB went 4-8-2 in GNAC play.
 
The Yellowjackets have blasted off to a 3-1 start in 2024. They are tied with SPU for the most goals scored in the GNAC with 11. At the same time, MSUB has allowed one goal this season. It's the fewest goals against of any team in the GNAC. Liberty Palmer leads the group with three goals scored, while Jackie Sharpe and Kendall McGraw have scored two goals each. Claire Brogdon has been superb in goal, with a save percentage of .933. 
 
ABOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON
The Vikings edged out the Falcons for the top spot in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. They went 13-4-4 in 2023, with a 9-2-3 record in conference play. Simon Fraser ended the Vikings season in the championship game of the GNAC Tournament last fall.
 
The Vikings have played a stout nonconference schedule, leading to a 1-2-2 record early in 2024. They defeated then-sixth-ranked Colorado-Colorado Springs 2-0 on their home field on Sept. 8. Morgan Manalili returns for another season with the Vikings. Manalili ranked second in the GNAC last fall with 15 points, including six goals and three assists to lead the Viking attack. She has one goal so far in 2024.
 
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Players Mentioned

Moira MacKay

#2 Moira MacKay

F
5' 9"
Junior
Ashlyn Valdovinos

#17 Ashlyn Valdovinos

D
5' 5"
Sophomore
Kayla Wallace

#11 Kayla Wallace

F
5' 4"
Junior
Natalie Boles

#6 Natalie Boles

M
5' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Moira MacKay

#2 Moira MacKay

5' 9"
Junior
F
Ashlyn Valdovinos

#17 Ashlyn Valdovinos

5' 5"
Sophomore
D
Kayla Wallace

#11 Kayla Wallace

5' 4"
Junior
F
Natalie Boles

#6 Natalie Boles

5' 3"
Freshman
M