And then there were two. Although it is apparently out of the playoff picture, the Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team has plenty to play for in the final week. The Falcons (2-1-0/10-5-2), still unbeaten at home and in contention for a share of the league title, host Western Washington (2-0-0/13-4-1) in the final Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Wednesday night (Nov. 6). Four seniors will be honored prior to Saturday night's (Nov. 9) final regular season game, a non-conference contest with Humboldt State (3-12-1).

GNAC goes down to the wire. Seattle Pacific is one of three teams still in contention for the GNAC crown going into the final week. The best scenario for the Falcons would be to beat Western Washington and then have the Vikings defeat Seattle University Nov. 9 to create a three-way tie atop the standings. Western, currently undefeated along with Seattle U. in GNAC play, is also the Northwest's frontrunner for NCAA tournament consideration, entering the week at No. 6 in the Far West Region of Division II. Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Bakersfield were Nos. 1-2, followed by Sonoma State. Only two teams receive playoff berths. SPU is eighth.

Home boys. In addition to the conference race, the Falcons also have other objectives. They are aiming for their first unbeaten home record since 1993. Although the Interbay Stadium record (6-0-1) was somewhat blemished by last week's 1-1 tie with Seattle U., the territorial and second-half domination continued. SPU has outscored visitors 16-1 in the second half at home. Overall, it owns a 22-3 goal differential, and advantages of 117-32 in shots and 55-10 in corner kicks. Individually, Jeremy Yerkes (So., Gresham, Or./Gresham-Tacoma CC) has been nearly unstoppable on his home turf, with seven goals and three assists in seven home games, including two goals vs. Simon Fraser last week.

A final salute. After this week it just won't be the same around Interbay as four seniors conclude their respective careers. Midfielder Cory Janzen (Sr., Langley, B.C./Lynden Christian) represents the last remaining member of the 1998 Final Four squad. Janzen, who scored the tying goal vs. Seattle U., has been a fixture, starting 78 of 79 games (he missed the 2001 season), primarily on the left side. Adrian Cravalho (Sr., Mililani, Hi./Kamehameha) has served as the No. 2 keeper for the past three seasons, seeing action in 20 games and posting a goals-against average of 1.10. Forward Grant Falco (Sr., Veradale, Wa./University) ranks among the school's career top 20 in goals (26), assists (20) and points (72) and needs one more game-winning goal to break into the top 10 (he has eight). Finally, left back Mike Pardini (Sr., Pasco, Wa.) has been putting teams under considerable pressure this season with his swerving long balls out of the back. His 14 career assists is among the best totals for defenders.

A handful to go. With 540 career wins, Coach Cliff McCrath will undoubtedly overtake retired San Francisco coach Steve Negoesco (544) as the all-time collegiate leader early in 2003. Uncle Nubby has guided 33 Falcon teams to 455 wins since 1970. The program has not sustained a losing record in the past 32 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. McCrath and Michelle Akers, a Seattle native two-time world champion, will receive the lifetime achievement award from the Friends of Soccer/Washington State at a Wednesday morning breakfast at the Seahawks Stadium restaurant.

Setting the stage. Much of what happens this week will set the stage for next fall, when McCrath returns as many as eight starters. Over the second half of the season, a young lineup (six freshmen and sophomore start) has beaten two nationally-ranked teams and become more consistent. A top contender for freshman of the year in the conference and the team's most improved award is Nick Letts (Fr., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian). He tied the SPU record by earning an assist in his fifth straight game vs. Seattle U. and over the last six games he has four goals and five assists. Letts was chosen as GNAC player of the week for the second time in three weeks after scoring twice and assisting on two goals in the 6-0 win over Simon Fraser and the draw with the Redhawks.

Footnotes. Letts, with an assist vs. Western Washington, would break the tie with Sasha Shefts (1983), Bobby McLaughlin (1988) and Reece Olney (1989)...David Smith (So., Corvallis, Or.) assisted on three goals vs. Simon Fraser to earn a share of the GNAC record. It was the first three-assist game by an SPU player since Falco and Vadim Tolstolutsky had four each in a 2000 game...With two games remaining, SPU has already surpassed last season's goal total by seven (48) and has allowed one more goal (22)...In the last two games Seattle Pacific has had a total of 26 corners to none for the opponents...Michael Brkich (So., Vancouver, B.C./Vienna Christian-Chico State), who scored the opening goal vs. SFU, is now the co-leader in GNAC assists (7). Letts leads in assists per game (0.55). Yerkes is second in goals (9) and third in overall points (24). Goalie James Ward (So., Salem, Or./Sprague) is No. 2 in shutouts (5).

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.