Two more, then home. Bidding farewell both to the heat of the Sun Belt and a three-game losing skid, the Seattle Pacific University men's soccer is going in the opposite direction, both figuratively and literally this week. The Falcons (3-3-0) begin Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Wednesday night (Sept. 12) at Western Washington (2-4-0) and then visit Simon Fraser (3-4-0) Saturday night (Sept. 15) to wrap-up their stretch of eight consecutive road games to open the season. The home opener is Sept. 20 versus Sonoma State.

Suddenly, everything clicks. Just when matters were starting to seem desperate, everything fell into place for the Falcons last week. Following a offensive power shortage in the first four games, the attack surged with energy and efficiency in victories over Cal Poly Pomona (4-1) and UC San Diego (3-1). The seven goals more than doubled the scoring production of the previous four outings, and it also relieved pressure on the backline, which had given-up eight goals during the three-game losing streak.

Just in time. Coach Cliff McCrath, whose career win total reached 523 during the trip, is pleased with his team's progress, and it couldn't have come at a better time. SPU had been in danger of slipping out of postseason contention. Now it opens defense of its conference championship with a full head of steam. The Falcons, who have won at least a share of the conference crown each of the past three years, were tabbed as the GNAC preseason favorite just ahead of crosstown rival Seattle University. Western Washington was picked third.

Oh, brother. There have been 15 sets of brothers who have played for SPU over the years, but last week's win in San Diego may have marked the first time that siblings scored a combined three goals. Michael and Bobby Schefter (Yakima, Wa./West Valley) did all the damage. Michael, a third-year sophomore, struck twice within 1 minute, 37 seconds of the second half for a 2-0 lead. Older brother Bobby came off the bench to blunt a Triton comeback attempt with the game's final goal in the 87th minute. For Michael, who missed most of last season due to injury, it was the second multi-goal game of his career, and it helped earn him co-player of the week in the GNAC. His four goals­which include a goal at Cal Poly Pomona last week­lead the squad this season.

The replacement scorers. Forwards Joe Kinzel (So., Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) and Grant Falco (Jr., Spokane, Wa./University) had some large cleats to fill this year. Essentially they are replacing a pair of the most prolific scorers in school history, Dana Garner and Vadim Tolstolutsky, who combined for 25 goals in 2000 and 96 over the course of their careers. With his team in particular need of a fast start at Pomona, Kinzel scored the first of his two goals in the 10th minute and, after Michael Schefter and Falco tallied, added another for good measure in the 76th. Two of Falco's team-high three assists have come in the last two games.

Defense taking shape. McCrath may have settled on his defensive alignment for the remainder of the season. He thought that the back four of Tyler Falco (Fr., Spokane, Wa./University), Mike Pardini (Jr., Pasco, Wa.), stopper Matt Laughlin (So., Selah, Wa.) and sweeper Erik Skipper (Sr., Hillsboro, Or./Glencoe) at San Diego was the strongest collective unit thus far. Keeper James Ward (Fr., Salem, Or./Sprague) appears entrenched at that position. Still Ward, who has also played up front, managed to earn his first assist. A 70-yard punt led to the final goal at San Diego.

Footnotes. After being out-shot 56-26 in the first four games, SPU responded by keeping the pressure on the other goal and finishing last week with a 27-21 edge in shots...Skipper saw his penalty kick saved at Cal Poly. Skipper had scored one penalty and two free kicks in the first four games...Brent Egbert (So., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome), last year's top-scoring nonstarter, has scored one goal and had two assists in the last three games...Forward David Smith (Fr., Corvallis, Or./Corvallis), who did not make the road trip because of an hamstring injury, will be reevaluated this week to determine his availability. Smith scored 12 goals and 16 assists in leading Corvallis to second in the Oregon championships as a senior...Cal State Dominguez Hills, the last team to defeat SPU, remains atop the regional and national polls this week. Lewis (Ill.) and Chico State, the other two teams to defeat the Falcons, are No. 3 and 19, respectively. Rounding out the region this week are Sonoma State (17th nationally), UC Davis and SPU. The top two teams in the region qualify for the playoffs.

Opponents & Series Notes. Western Washington and SPU got a look at one another during the Phoenix tournament. The Vikings, coached by SPU alum Travis Connell, will be hosting the Falcons for only the first time in 12 years. This will be the only GNAC road game for Seattle Pacific, which has won 11 meetings in a row, dating back to a 1-1 tie in 1987. Western's last victory was in 1971. The series stands 29-7-2 in favor of SPU. It will also be the only game played on artificial turf this season...Simon Fraser, under new coach Dave Elligott, has struggled early but still managed a win over Cal State Bakersfield, one of the top Div. II teams in the region. The Clan have won 11 and drawn three of 17 home games in the series, but have lost three in a row to SPU and trail overall 19-12-4.