A stretch of seven road games in the first month of the 2002 season will no doubt prove pivotal to Seattle Pacific University returning to the NCAA men's soccer playoffs.

The Falcons, fielding a relatively young team, went 10-8-1 and missed making the tournament for the first time in 12 years last fall. Nine starters are expected back for the new season, which opens Aug. 31 with a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at Northwest Nazarene.

The 19-game schedule begins with five consecutive road matches, including four during a 10-day junket in Northern California. A brief swing through Southern California will come in late October.

Among the nine home dates at Interbay Stadium are Cal State Dominguez Hills, the 2000 national champion and '01 runner-up, on Oct. 5 and defending GNAC champion Seattle University Nov. 1. The latter is part of a four-game homestand to cap the regular season.