Tight schedule. After a favorable week in which it won two of three games, the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team hopes to continue its winning ways as it squeezes two matches and a trip into a 22-hour time period this weekend. As the Falcons (2-3-0, 4-4-1) approach the second half of the season, they first host the region's No. 5 team, Cal State Dominguez Hills (6-2-2), Friday night (Oct. 4). By mid-afternoon Saturday (Oct. 5), they will find themselves on the other side of the Cascades for a resumption of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Central Washington (1-3-0, 1-8-0). A four-game home stand begins Oct. 8 versus Carroll College (2-4-2).

Home stand. After a bit of a slow start, particularly on offense, the Falcons have won three of their last four matches-scoring 10 goals in the process-and picked up their first outright road victory against Western Washington last week. They are 4-0-1 when scoring at least two goals and seven of the next nine games will be played at Interbay Stadium, where Coach Bobby Bruch has won eight of 11 contests over the program's brief, two-year existence.

Looking for respect. Seattle Pacific and the rest of the GNAC teams are intent upon getting some respect with regard to the rest of the region, where six of the eight ranked teams are from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The quickest way to earn respect, of course, is to beat a CCAA team head-to-head. So far, the Falcons are 0 for 6, including a couple road losses early this season. Therefore, Cal State Dominguez Hills, having received votes in this week's national poll, rates as a prime target. Three of the four SPU losses this season have been to teams (Western Oregon, Sonoma State and Humboldt State) currently ranked among the top eight in the Far West.

Heating up. If last week promised to be a preview of things to come, fans in the Seattle area will be on the edge of their seats as the remainder of the season unfolds. Part of the excitement can be attributed to forward Megan Lienhard (Fr., Everett, Wa./Cascade). The long-legged rookie leads the GNAC in assists (6) and is third in overall points (12), and has been a catalyst for SPU since day-one. Last week, Lienhard netted two goals and three assists, including the assist on the game-winning goal against Western Washington, a corner kick which Jean Kolb (Fr., Eugene, Or./South Eugene) headed into the Viking net with 30 seconds remaining in overtime. Also scoring a pair of goals last week was Jessica Henson (So., Spokane, Wa./University). The energetic midfielder netted her first against Northwest Nazarene and her second in Bellingham, and is tied for second on the team in points (8).

Back and forth. Having been Bruch's starting sweeper in 2001, Michelle Sanders (So., Centralia, Wa.) has enjoyed much success having moved up permanently to the frontline in 2002. The slender redhead, who still managed six assists and 12 total points in her first season while coming out of the back, figured in two of the three goals at Western. She scored the first SPU goal at 41:28 off a looping pass from teammate Sarah Melby (So., Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak-Idaho) and assisted on Henson's 16-yard strike five minutes later. In three career games against Western, Sanders has scored three times and assisted on three other goals.

Not to be forgotten. Not to be outdone last week by Kolb's heroics and Lienhard's playmaking was Shannon Lovejoy (Fr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep). She leads the team in shots (22) and goals (4), ranking sixth in the conference. Lovejoy is second only Lienhard in overall points (8). Lovejoy hit the back of the net vs. Northwest Nazarene last week, as did reserve defender Karen France (So., Woodland Park, Co./Palmer).

Footnotes. Overall, Bruch has seven athletes that have started all nine contests including Lienhard, Lovejoy, Henson, Kolb, Melby, sweeper Nicole Ruiz (Jr., Federal Way, Wa./Federal Way-Barry) and the squad's sole senior, midfielder LeRin Farrison (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Mountain View/Highline CC). Goalkeepers Jennifer Hull (So., Eugene, Or./Sheldon) and Erin Pierce (Fr., Milwaukie, Or./Rex Putnam) continue to split time in the net for the most part. Against Western, Hull went the entire 109-plus minutes and registered a season-high nine saves...SPU is unbeaten in 11 straight games in which it has scored at least two goals...Seattle Pacific has a 122-107 advantage in shots, 16-14 in goals and 46-27 in corner kicks...Ten of the Falcons' goal have been scored by freshmen, and the other six have been courtesy of sophomores.

Opponent and series notes. Cal State Dominguez Hills is the only opponent to score more than three goals against SPU, winning 5-2 in Carson, Ca., to hand the program its first-ever loss last season. Dianne Garza and Tanya Wilson, who each scored twice in that game, have scored eight and three goals, respectively, this season. The Toros' two losses were to nationally-ranked Barry and Cal Poly Pomona...SPU and Central Washington split two games last season, with each team prevailing at home. The Wildcats have lost four in a row and have scored only five goals this season...Next Tuesday's match marks the first meeting between Seattle Pacific and Carroll College, located in Helena, Montana.

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.