Ol' rivals week. With solid footing and a headfull of steam, Seattle Pacific University plays two of its oldest men's soccer rivals this upcoming week. The Falcons (1-0-0/4-4-1) take their five-game unbeaten string north to Western Washington (1-1-0/6-5-1) as Great Northwest Athletic Conference play resumes Monday night (Oct. 6). Then comes the crosstown trip to Seattle University (2-0-0/4-3-0) next Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11). Interrupting a string of road games is the Oct. 15 home date with Pacific Lutheran.

Getting some traction. Following a disastrous start, SPU has clawed its way back to the .500 level and a regional ranking. It's by no means a complete comeback, just the start of one. The Falcons still cannot afford a loss as they seek traction for a sprint to the postseason later this month. They need to finish among the top three teams in the Far West and currently they are seventh. Seattle Pacific plays three of the teams ahead of them (Seattle U. is No. 5) in the next five weeks. All four losses were to teams currently among the top six.

It oughtta start with 'D.' Solid teams are traditionally built on defense, and the Falcons have developed into a particularly stingy unit. Each of their four wins have been shutouts and they have allowed only four goals in the last seven games. Matt Laughlin (Sr., Selah, Wa.) used his speed and instincts to help SPU blank both San Francisco State and Sonoma State by 1-0 scores and earn GNAC co-player of the week. Fellow defender David Selby (Jr., Aloha, Or./Southridge-Warner Pacific) was solid at the back and also figured in both goals, scoring a 30-yard strike late in the Gators game and assisting on an early goal versus Sonoma. Goalkeeper James Ward (Jr., Salem, Or./Sprague) made seven of his season-high eight saves in the second half against the defending national champions. SPU has allowed a GNAC-low nine goals in nine games.

It figures. To Cliff McCrath, the most anticipated moment is probably not becoming college soccer's all-time coaching victory leader. No, he's likely to be more consumed by getting win No. 547. Forty-seven, everyone now knows, is McCrath's lucky number. Heck, it's his only number. He's worn it since he played at Wheaton College, and he's managed to find a place for those two digits in nearly every facet (from phone numbers and license plates to the more trivial factoids) of his life ever since. Last week, McCrath got wins 544 and 545 to become No. 2 on the all-division win list behind Wheaton's Joe Bean (548 and counting). That makes 547 within reach this next week.

Goals wanted. Of course, McCrath might enjoy wins more if they came with comfortable margins. But it's difficult to have blowouts when the goals are so scarce. Seattle Pacific's offense has generated only 11 goals of its own-the lowest nine-game total in 34 years. Fortunately, it has coincided with one of the best defensive runs in team history. The Falcons have ample firepower; Nick Letts (So., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian), Jeremy Yerkes (Jr., Gresham, Or./Gresham-Tacoma CC), Michael Brkich (Jr., Vancouver, B.C./Vienna Christian-Chico State) and David Smith (Jr., Corvallis, Or.) combined for 24 goals last season, and Andy Willis (Fr., Gig Harbor, Wa.) was a prolific prep scorer. Thus far they have combined for eight goals.

Footnotes. Brkich used a deft first touch to control a cross and then calmly slotted home the game-winning goal vs. Sonoma State...SPU is now 13-0-2 in 2002-03 when scoring the game's first goal...Brent Egbert (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome), an all-region midfielder in 2002, has requested and received a medical hardship waiver. He will miss the remainder of the season and return next fall...Manfredo Rendon (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) got his first start vs. Sonoma and assisted on the lone goal...Also getting the starting call last week was Michael Schefter (Sr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley), who missed the first seven games with a leg injury...Ward is the GNAC leader in GAA (1.02) and Smith is the co-leader in assists (3)...Yerkes, Ward, Selby, Laughlin and Michael Morris (Fr., Bothell, Wa./Blanchet) are the only players to start all nine games.

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.