First at stake. Bigger than just bragging rights, the spoils of Saturday's men's soccer showdown between Seattle Pacific University and Seattle University could also include a conference championship and a place among the top contenders for the NCAA tournament. The Falcons (2-0-0/7-3-1), unbeaten in their last four outings, play three of their next four on the road, beginning with the weekend matinee against the Redhawks (1-0-0/7-4-1). SPU is back home to face Grand Canyon Oct. 17.

Movin' on up. As expected, Seattle Pacific has moved up into contention within the Far West Region. A 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Cal State Dominiguez Hills boosted the Falcons from No. 9 to No. 5 in the coaches poll with eight games remaining. The top two teams from the Far West go to the playoffs next month. While Dominguez Hills held on to the top spot in the poll, a second loss (at Western Washington) could enable Sonoma State to go ahead next week. Cal State Bakersfield and UC Davis round out the top four. Seattle U. is No. 7 and Western No. 8.

Getting down to the Nub. With 537 career wins, Coach Cliff McCrath now needs only seven more to overtake retired San Francisco coach Steve Negoesco as the all-time collegiate leader. Uncle Nubby has guided 33 Falcon teams to 452 wins since 1970. The program has not sustained a losing record in the past 31 years and has qualified for postseason play 28 times. Both are Division II records. SPU was the NCAA champion in 1978, '83, '85, '86 and '93. If McCrath is to break the record this season, that feat would likely come at home; the final four games will be played at Interbay Stadium.

Barring the door. After allowing five goals-the most in over four seasons-in a loss to Simon Fraser last month, the Falcons have been darn right stingy since then. The defense has yielded just two goals (including a penalty kick) and 17 shots in the last four games. The backline of Matt Laughlin (Jr., Selah, Wa.), Mike Pardini (Sr., Pasco, Wa.) and David Selby (So., Aloha, Or./Southridge-Warner Pacific) will face a big test Saturday. Seattle U. is averaging 2.92 goals, the highest in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. SPU is 7-0-1 when holding opponents under two goals this season.

A bunch of Yerkes. Goals have not exactly gushed from the attack during the unbeaten skein, but scoring chances have been numerous and midfielder Jeremy Yerkes (So., Gresham, Or./Gresham-Tacoma CC) has made the most of his. Yerkes has contributed either at least a goal or an assist in each of the past four games, including two goals and an assist in last week's wins over CSDH and Montana State Billings (3-0). His 20-yard free kick bent over a wall and into the corner against the Toros and his first-half penalty vs. Billings gave him the team lead with six goals to date. Yerkes, who was selected as GNAC player of the week, is No. 2 in conference goals and No. 3 in total points (15). He and fellow starting midfielders Michael Brkich (So., Vancouver, B.C./Vienna Christian-Chico State), Cory Janzen (Sr., Langley, B.C./Lynden Christian), Ross Vaillancourt (Fr., Bedford, N.H./Manchester West) and Brent Egbert (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) and reserve midfielder Jeremy Bonner (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) have accounted for each of the team's 11 goals in the last five games. For the season, midfielders have scored 19 of the team's 31 goals.

Footnotes. Seattle Pacific's victory over Dominguez Hills was the first against a top-10 team since 1999 versus Barry...James Ward (So., Salem, Or./Sprague) is third among GNAC goalkeepers with a 1.06 goals-against average and second with three shutouts...Yerkes is the conference leader with three game-winning goals...Janzen's game-winning goal vs. CSDH was the seventh of his career and it was his third goal in four games...Egbert and Bonner scored 28 seconds apart to break open the Billings game. The record for shortest time between two goals is 13 seconds...Five players-Ward, Laughlin, Janzen, Brkich and forward Grant Falco (Sr., Veradale, Wa./University)-have started each of the 11 games. Falco has started 37 consecutive games, dating back to the 2000 season...David Smith (Fr., Corvallis, Or.) is expected to return in 10-14 days, after his jaw mends from a fracture sustained Sept. 16. Smith led the GNAC with five goals in his first five games...The Falcons have outscored foes 20-4 in the second half this season. SPU is 6-0-1 when scoring first...Western Washington is the other contender for the GNAC crown. The Vikings, also 2-0-0 in league, visit Interbay Nov. 6. and host Seattle U. Nov. 9.

Tickets, please. Tickets for all SPU regular season games are priced $7 for reserved, $5 for general admission, with students and senior citizens $3. Group rates are available by phoning (206) 281-2085 in advance.

Coaching Staff. Cliff McCrath is the active leader among all divisions in career coaching victories. He needs nine to surpass San Francisco's 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).

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.