Bouncing back. A year after missing the NCAA Division II men's soccer playoffs, Seattle Pacific University appears ready to rebound and then some. The Falcons, with nine starters back plus some excellent recruits and the return of a prodigal son, are aiming to not only make the playoffs for the 28th time in 31 years but also take a crack at claiming their sixth national title. The first public glimpse of the new squad will come Friday evening (Aug. 23) when they meet a band of alumni at Interbay Stadium.

On schedule. Seattle Pacific, coming off a 10-8-1 record in 2001, opens regular season play in less than 10 days, beginning with a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at Northwest Nazarene Aug. 30. It is the first of five straight road games on the 19-game schedule and it will mark the program's first trip to Idaho. The Interbay opener is Sept. 16, a Monday matinee with California's Notre Dame de Namur. In all, there will be nine home dates, including four to finish out the regular season in November.

Baker's dozen & counting. If SPU qualifies for the postseason, that feat will almost assuredly push Cliff McCrath to the top of collegiate soccer's all-time victory list. McCrath, with 530 wins, trails retired San Francisco coach Steve Negoesco by 13 victories. McCrath has guided 32 Falcon teams to 445 wins since 1970. Seattle Pacific was the NCAA champion in 1978, '83, '85, '86 and '93. The last time Seattle Pacific missed the playoffs (1989) was followed by a run to the NCAA championship game the following season.

How they rate. The Falcons have been picked to finish second in the GNAC and for the first time in 12 years did not receive enough votes in the national poll to break into the preseason top 25. However, the primary goal is to finish the regular season among the top two teams in the West Region, thereby earning a playoff berth. The NCAA bracket, currently at 16 teams, will likely expand to 24 teams in 2003. SPU has won a conference title three of the last four years. A year ago it was runner-up to Seattle University in the GNAC and this fall the Redhawks, favored to repeat, are eligible for NCAA postseason play for the first time. Four nationally-ranked teams are on the Seattle Pacific schedule, including top-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills. The others are No. 11 UC Davis, No. 16 Grand Canyon and No. 25 Sonoma State, which hosts the Falcons Sept. 7.

Top returnees. After two rounds of cuts, the final roster features 13 returnees, eight freshmen, three transfers and the return of three-year starter and two-time all-conference midfielder Cory Janzen (Sr., Langley, B.C./Lynden Christian) following a year off. While nine of the holdovers were regular starters in 2001, the recruits are of such quality that they may dominate the opening day lineup. All-conference defender Mike Pardini (Sr., Pasco, Wa.) has nailed down left fullback and will serve as captain. Also, on defense, James Ward (So., Salem, Or./Sprague), the GNAC freshman of the year, is the starter in goal. Janzen figures to be among four new faces in midfield along with returnee Brent Egbert (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome). Grant Falco (Sr., Veradale, Wa./University), one of only three seniors and last season's conference leader with 10 assists, is one of two forwards. Also staking an early claim to a starting jobs is forward David Smith (So., Corvallis, Or.), the team co-leader in goals (6) despite missing the first six games of his freshman season. Matt Laughlin (Jr., Selah, Wa.), who helped organize a defense which allowed only 19 goals in the final 15 games, could earn a role either in a back four or midfield.

Fine young men. Among the newcomers making strong bids for starting roles are midfielders Ross Vaillancourt (Fr., Bedford, N.H./Manchester West), a two-time high school All-America, and Canadian Olympic team member Michael Brkich (So., Vancouver, B.C./Vienna Christian-Chico State). They could be joined in midfield by transfer Jeremy Yerkes (So., Gresham, Or./Gresham-Tacoma CC). Another transfer, David Selby (So., Aloha, Or./Southridge-Warner Pacific), is a candidate for right fullback while fellow defender Mark Cox (Fr., Renton, Wa./Kentridge) could give McCrath a lineup featuring seven underclassmen. Tom Funk (Fr., Orland Park, Il./Sandburg) figures have a key role at forward.

Footnotes. Andy Willis (Fr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor), the first recruit to sign in the spring, has not yet recovered from a series of foot injuries and will not see action this season...Pardini scored the only goal in last week's intrasquad scrimmage at Oak Harbor...Three of the four GNAC games will be played on the road, with the sole home date being Western Washington...McCrath again intends to use Ward at forward from time to time. Although he started 18 of 19 games last season, Ward often went upfield to spark the attack and scored three goals and assisted on two others...SPU has posted winning records each of the last 31 years.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.

Coaching Staff. Cliff McCrath is the active leader among all divisions in career coaching victories. He needs 14 to surpass San Francisco's recently-retired Steve Negoesco (543) as the all-time leader. McCrath has led SPU to a record 27 NCAA playoff appearances, including berths in 17 of the last 18 years, and five national titles (1978, '83, '85, '86 and '93). He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and is a past national coach of the year. His staff includes former Falcons Mark Metzger ('78 championship team), Peter Hattrup ('83 and '85 title teams) and Chuck Granade ('93 NCAA winners).