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Exodus for Genesis. In the beginning, there was a plan. Then came a coach, followed by players. And now, let the games begin. The first season of Seattle Pacific University women's soccer starts in Southern California with a preseason scrimmage and three regular season outings. The Falcons' official debut is Saturday afternoon (Aug. 25) at San Diego's Point Loma Nazarene. After four games on the road, including the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener Sept. 5, SPU hosts Central Washington in the inaugural home game Sept. 8 at Interbay Stadium

Book of Numbers. Women's soccer becomes the 12th varsity sport and the first game comes less than 18 months after President Philip Eaton announced the program's inception before more than a hundred students, staff and community members in March of 2000. The roster is 18 players strong and includes nine graduates of Washington high schools and five from Oregon. Although the squad is understandably comprised primarily of freshmen­12 of them, in fact­there are also three Division I transfers. Seattle Pacific will play seven home games and 12 contests are against fellow GNAC teams.

Bruch No Rook. He may not have been a collegiate head coach before, but Bobby Bruch already has a national championship as a coach in his back pocket. Bruch guided the West Coast F.C. Shamrocks of Mission Viejo, Ca., to the 1998 U.S. under-19 girls championship and his teams made it to the semifinal and final each on one other occasion. That's how most Californians know him, yet around Puget Sound people remember Bruch as the energetic midfielder behind Seattle Pacific's back-to-back NCAA men's titles in 1985-86 and F.C. Seattle's 1987 Western Soccer League crown.

Gang of Five. Before there was a varsity team, there was club soccer at Seattle Pacific, dating as far back as 1975. Once Bruch was named coach in September of 2000, he pulled together a handful of women already enrolled in classes and began training last spring. Four of those players remain on this fall's roster. The other, Sharon Harrold, opted to graduate and become Bruch's assistant coach.

Proven Players. Five of Bruch's first class of recruits have previous collegiate experience. Forward Andrea Larsen (Sr., Portland, Or./Central Catholic) returns to the game after a one-year absence. She left Oklahoma State after the 1999 season as the Cowgirls' career scoring leader with 45 points on 16 goals. Midfielder Alissa Peterson (So., Plymouth, Mn./Wayzata) sat out last season after playing her freshman season at Wisconsin and starting 13 games at midfield and defense for the Badgers. Sweeper Erin Roberts (Jr., Issaquah, Wa./Issaquah) was with Montana from 1998-99, starting 11 of the 25 games she played. The only junior college transfer, LeRin Farrison (Jr., Vancouver, Wa./Mountain View), scored 11 goals for Highline Community College as a sophomore and twice made the all-NWAACC team. All four are expected to start.

Heads of the Class. She was the first recruit to ever sign a national letter of intent, she wears No. 1 on her shirt and it's a likely that Jennifer Hull (Fr., Eugene, Or./Sheldon) will be positioned between the goalposts on opening day. Hull was a second team all-state selection as a senior. In fact, Bruch figures to have seven freshmen in his starting lineup. Joining Roberts on the backline could be Mellisa Ellingson (Fr., Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) on the right, Katie Lim (Fr., Hillsboro, Or./Hillsboro), on the left and Karen France (Fr., Woodland Park, Co./Palmer) at stopper. In midfield would be Jessica Henson (Fr., Spokane, Wa./University), BreeAnn Milligan (Fr., Idaho Falls, Id./Skyline) and Peterson. Joining Farrison and Larsen up at forward will be Tara Wood (Fr., Bellevue, Wa./Newport). Michelle Hunt (Sr., Bellevue, Wa./Newport), a transfer from Northwood in Michigan, is awaiting eligibility clearance from the NCAA.

They Can Pick'em. The Great Northwest Athletic (GNAC) coaches have picked SPU to finish fifth in the seven-team standings. Seattle University, the Pacific West Conference champion in 2000, is the favorite with Central Washington the top contender. No GNAC team has ever qualified for the NCAA tournament. This year three teams from the Far West Region will receive berths and the national bracket will include 24 teams. Sonoma State, at No. 11 in the preseason poll, is the only nationally-ranked team on the schedule, hosting the Falcons Sept. 21. Point Loma finished 2000 ranked No. 23 in NAIA.

First Impressions Are Lasting. It's been 15 years since Seattle Pacific last rolled out a new sport (volleyball) and 58 since it all began with a men's basketball game played on an earthen floored gymnasium in 1943. But a quick check of the first outings by the five established team sports shows that four won their inaugural game. The most impressive debut was by women's basketball in 1976 when it defeated Washington on the road, 66-60. Ironically, the only existing SPU team to lose its opener was men's soccer, a 4-1 victim to Seattle University in 1968. That program rebounded to become arguably the strongest in the history of NCAA Division II with 27 playoff appearances in the last 29 years and five national titles.

Schedule & Opponent Notes. Bruch and the Falcons will get a clear picture where they stand in the conference and region within the first few weeks. Sonoma State, Cal State Dominguez Hills and UCDavis were ranked Nos. 2, 5 and 6 in the final regional rankings last season. The top-rated team in the West, UC San Diego, went on to claim the NCAA title. Point Loma Nazarene, which advanced to the NAIA regional semifinals last season, returns nine starters while Vanguard brings back six starters.

Everybody's Invited. It's not too early to make plans to attend the inaugural SPU home game. Pregame festivities include a barbecue (cost is $5) on campus followed by a free shuttle to Interbay. Three hundred commemorative team photos will be distributed to fans. After the game, Coach Bruch and his players will sign autographs and pose for pictures. Ticket prices are $7 for reserved and $5 for general admission, with students and senior citizens receiving G.A. tickets for $3. Group rates are available by phoning (206) 281-2085 in advance.