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A Pair in the Sun. They haven't won, they haven't lost and yet the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer program is well underway. The Falcons (0-0-1), fresh from an impressive draw in their inaugural game, finish the Southern California portion of their season-opening road trip this week, visiting Vanguard (0-0-0) Tuesday night (Aug. 28) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-0-0) Friday (Aug. 31). The Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener is Sept. 5 at Northwest Nazarene.

Golden goal. The term golden goal is usually reserved for those struck in sudden-death overtime, yet there was no more precious score than that which came from the left foot of Andrea Larsen (Sr., Portland, Or./Central Catholic) some 50 minutes into the SPU debut at Point Loma Nazarene. The goal was not only the historic first strike in the history of the new program, but it also earned the Falcons a 1-1 tie with the 23rd-ranked team in NAIA and made Larsen the GNAC player of the week. Earlier, she had scored the only goal in a 1-0 exhibition win against Concordia (Ca.). Larsen comes to Seattle Pacific from Oklahoma State, where she left after becoming the Cowgirls' career scoring leader in her three seasons. Melissa Ellingson (Fr., Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) goes into the record books with the team's first assist.

Steel Hull. The first recruit signed by Coach Bobby Bruch aptly wears the No. 1 shirt, and last week Jennifer Hull (Fr., Eugene, Or./Sheldon) anchored a defense which allowed only one goal­a penalty kick­in 180 minutes. Hull was credited with eight saves at Point Loma after a shutout at Concordia. Her final stop came in the final minute, and her outlet pass to Michelle Sanders (Fr., Centralia, Wa.) led to a last-send shot which forced a diving save from the Crusaders' keeper as time expired.

Clip and save. Somewhere in the future, perhaps at the 25th anniversary of last week's official opener, some ol' geezer like a graying Bruch will call forth the Falcons' original starting lineup. Hull was the first to be introduced, followed by defenders Erin Roberts (Jr., Issaquah, Wa./Issaquah), Anna-Kate Peterson (So., Portland, Or./Cleveland), Katie Lim (Fr., Hillsboro, Or./Hillsboro) and Leila Stalnaker (Fr., Auburn, Wa./Settle Christian); midfielders Ellingson, Alissa Peterson (So., Plymouth, Mn./Wayzata), Jessica Henson (Fr., Spokane, Wa./University) and BreeAnn Milligan (Fr., Idaho Falls, Id./Skyline); and forwards Larsen and LeRin Farrison (Jr., Vancouver, Wa./Mountain View-Highline CC). The substitutes were Sanders, Sarah Richards (Fr., Bellevue, Wa./Newport), Tara Wood (Fr., Bellevue, Wa./Newport), Karen France (Fr., Woodland Park, Co./Palmer) and Laura Walker (Fr., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer).

History 101. Bruch and his players were well aware of the first match's historical significance. Before the game Athletic Director Tom Box read aloud a letter from SPU President Philip Eaton.

"The girls really rose to the occasion and were aware that they were part of something special," said Bruch. "They really felt inspired."

Footnotes. Forward Michelle Hunt (Sr., Bellevue, Wa./Newport), a transfer from Northwood in Midland, Mich., did not make the trip to California. She is awaiting a ruling on her eligibility with regards to the transfer...The team managed to win the exhibition at Concordia despite the fact that they traveled from Seattle by air that morning. They face a similar scenario when they fly and play on the same day at Northwest Nazarene next week...Roberts, the sweeper, led the team with three shots at Point Loma.

Schedule & Opponent Notes. Vanguard, formerly known as Southern California College, opens its season Monday (Aug. 27) vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Lions lost an exhibition with Cal State L.A., 4-3, last week...Cal State Dominguez Hills has gone to the NCAA playoffs five times and won the national title in 1991. The Toros began the season by beating GNAC member Humboldt State 5-1 Aug. 24.

SPU Coaching Staff. Bobby Bruch was hired as the Falcons' first head coach on Oct. 17, 2000. Bruch, an assistant on the SPU men's squad at the time, had been a successful girls coach in Southern California. He 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. As a player, Bruch was a starting midfielder on Seattle Pacific's back-to-back NCAA men's titles in 1985-86 and later played on championship teams for F.C. Seattle (1988) and the L.A. Heat (1991). Assistant coach Sharon Harrold, a graduate of Redmond's Eastlake High School, played at Texas Christian before graduating from SPU in 2001.

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.