Turnaround time. Still searching for its first victory of the young season, the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team hopes that just a little change in scenery will prove to be the difference. The Falcons (0-1-0/0-2-1), who play four of their next five games at Interbay Stadium, host Whitworth College (0-1-0) in the home opener Tuesday night (Sept. 10). SPU then resumes Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday (Sept. 14) at Western Oregon (1-0-0/1-1-0). The Falcons begin a three-game homestand Monday (Sept. 16) by hosting Notre Dame de Namur (2-0-1).

A cookie monster? The demanding California junket behind them, Coach Bobby Bruch is determined to get his team on a roll. Or make that a cookie. Bruch has dubbed Tuesday as "Guaranteed Win Night." Backed by a local grocer, Bruch promises a free cookie to all fans if the Falcons should fail to win against Whitworth (fans can redeem their ticket stubs at the next home game, Sept. 16). Seattle Pacific proved formidable at home in its inaugural season, going 5-2 at Interbay and winning four of the final five games there.

Tough games ahead. SPU has a particularly tough pair of games sandwiched around the coming weekend. Saturday's match at Western Oregon will be a rematch of last season's finale, when the Wolves denied the Falcons a share of the GNAC crown with a 2-1 overtime victory. This year WOU were picked to finish second and third, respectively, behind Seattle University. Notre Dame de Namur, currently unbeaten, also scored a sudden-death win last season. The Argonauts, scoring in the 104th minute, prevailed 1-0 in Belmont, Calif.

Offense needed. The team arrived home from their first road trip nearly empty-handed. Although Bruch said the squad played well, all it could salvage from the first three games was a draw with San Francisco State, 2-2. Creating chances but unable to finish them, the Falcons lost their first game at Sonoma State, 1-0, and their GNAC opener to Humboldt State, 3-0. Evidence of Seattle Pacific's competitiveness is the fact that opponents have launched only eight more shots (48-40). An early goal by Sonoma State proved to be the difference in that game as LeRin Farrison (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Mountain View-Highline CC) rattled a second-half shot off the crossbar. A goal on the stroke of halftime was disallowed at SFSU and the Gators managed to earn a tie by scoring with 53 seconds remaining in regulation.

Was it expected? Coaches, players and fans alike should not be too upset nor surprised by a slow start. Not only did Seattle Pacific face some heady competition but it fields a very young team. There are 22 freshmen and sophomores, including nine in the starting lineup. In fact, all the scoring so far has come courtesy of the Class of '06. Rookie midfielder Shannon Lovejoy (Fr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep) headed in a cross from Allison Teague (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Bellevue Christian-Santa Clara) and Katy Nydam (Fr., Oak Harbor, Wa.) notched the second goal at San Francisco, off assists by Megan Lienhard (Fr., Everett, Wa./Cascade) and Michelle Everson (Fr., Tacoma, Wa./Curtis).

Been there before. Although new faces scored and assisted for Bruch, there are several holdovers in the starting lineup. Along with Farrison, midfielder Jessica Henson (So., Spokane, Wa./University), forward Michelle Sanders (So., Centralia, Wa.) and defender Katie Lim (So., Hillsboro, Or.) have started the first three games while goalie Jennifer Hull (So., Eugene. Or./Sheldon) has started twice. Other three-game starters are Lovejoy, Lienhard, Jean Kolb (Fr., Eugene, Or./South Eugene), Sarah Melby (So., Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak-Idaho) and Nicole Ruiz (Jr., Federal Way, Wa./Federal Way-Barry).

Footnotes. Tuesday's game with Whitworth is the first of 11 home contests-four more than a year ago...The Far West Region's top three teams will qualify for the playoffs in 2002. This week's regional rankings show six California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) teams at the top-defending NCAA champion UC San Diego, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Dominguez Hills, UC Davis, Chico State and Sonoma State-followed by Humboldt...Last week's tie with San Francisco State was the longest game in the Falcons' brief history, extending the full 110 minutes. Overtimes were shortened to 10-minute periods by the NCAA this season. In the past, it had been 15 minutes. Penalty kicks will determine win/loss in postseason play only.

Opponent and series notes. The match against Whitworth will be the teams' first meeting. The Pirates are coming off a 5-1 loss to Simon Fraser... The series with Western Oregon is tied 1-1. Both matches last season with the Wolves, including a 2-1 win in Seattle, went to overtime. The sides meet again Oct. 19 at Interbay...Notre Dame de Namur plays twice more before Monday's rare weekday afternoon doubleheader. The men's teams meet immediately afterward.

Tickets, please. General admission tickets to all SPU regular season home games are $5, with students and senior citizens receiving tickets for $3. Group rates are available by phoning (206) 281-2085 in advance.

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.