North, then home. Arriving back in the Northwest with the elusive first win, Seattle Pacific University next sends its men's soccer team north of the Canadian border before beginning a three-game home stand at Interbay Stadium. The Falcons (1-4-0), who hope to begin the process of salvaging their playoff hopes, face nationally-ranked Simon Fraser (4-2-0) Wednesday night (Sept. 17) in British Columbia before making their debut on the new FieldTurf surface at Interbay when they host Montana State Billings (5-2-1) Friday afternoon (Sept. 19). Next week, both San Francisco State and defending NCAA Division II Champion Sonoma State visit.

Restoration ahead. Eighteen straight days on the road can get old, even when a team is winning. So when the Falcons lost their first four outings, the guys probably felt that their watches and calendars had been converted to dog years. In other words, it was a long, long trip. But the upside is that Seattle Pacific posted a victory before heading for home and the defense has hardened considerably. After allowing just two goals in the previous two games, the Falcons blanked Humboldt State for the first shutout of the season. While the start rates among the most sluggish in program history, Coach Cliff McCrath has managed to resurrect teams in the past. For instance, the '96 squad began 3-4 but later reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Invincibility must return. If McCrath is to work his magic once again, then he'd better get to brewing his potion. His teams have only absorbed five losses prior to October three times before, and two of those sides failed to reach the postseason. The first order of business is to avenge a humbling 5-1 road loss to Simon Fraser last year. After that, the Falcons must become invincible at home, where they play nine of the last 13 games. Last season ended with them winning only one of their final three home games during a pivotal stretch run. Their all-time record at The Bay is 48-11-2 since the facility opened in 1997.

The race continues. The race to break the record for career coaching victories is over, at least for now. Wheaton's Joe Bean surpassed retired San Francisco coach Steve Negoesco with a pair of wins last week and now has 545 to Negoesco's 544. McCrath, the Division II leader, begins the week with 542 and could conceivably catch Bean at a later date.

Still waiting for a gusher. While goalie James Ward (Jr., Salem, Or./Sprague) is atop the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in goals-against average (1.39), the offensive statistics are underwhelming. The Falcons have found the net only four times in five games. Nick Letts (So., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian) and Jeremy Yerkes (Jr., Gresham, Or./Gresham-Tacoma CC) have accounted for all of the scoring, and each scored once in the first half of the Humboldt game. Meanwhile, the rest of a potentially potent attack has been silenced thus far. A year ago, the Falcons had scored 17 times in the first five contests.

Footnotes. For the third year in a row Seattle Pacific has won its GNAC opener...Ward's shutout was his first since Oct. 29 and the eighth of his career... Both goals at Humboldt came within a 4-minute span midway through the first period. The Lumberjacks have yet to score a goal in eight meetings with SPU. The two teams meet again Oct. 24 at Interbay...The HSU game the first time the SPU has scored first in a game this season. Last year they were 9-0-1 when scoring the first goal...The combined record of the opponents which SPU has lost to this season is 14-3-1.

Coaching Staff. Cliff McCrath is Division II leader in career coaching victories. He needs four to surpass San Francisco's retired Steve Negoesco (543) as the all-time collegiate (all divisions) leader. McCrath has led SPU to a record 27 NCAA playoff appearances, including berths in 17 of the last 19 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), Chuck Granade ('93 NCAA winners) and Mark Collings ('98 Final Four).

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.