SEATTLE (Oct. 13) - Just two and one-half seasons after beginning play, the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer program has earned its first national ranking. The Falcons are listed as No. 20 in the NCAA Division II poll conducted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) for this week.

Seattle Pacific is 10-1-2 this year, unbeaten in 10 games and sits atop the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a mark of 6-0-1. To qualify for the NCAA tournament next month, it must finish among the top four teams in the Far West Region. The Falcons next play at Grand Canyon in Phoenix Saturday.

SPU began play in 2001, and last season the team won the GNAC title. This fall the Falcons, under new head coach Chuck Sekyra, rate among the Division II leaders in team defense, with 10 shutouts and only four goals allowed.

Colorado's Metro State is ranked No. 1 this week. Seattle University is the only other GNAC team listed, dropping two spots to No. 15.

The NCAA Division II Women's Soccer poll for Oct. 13:
1 Metro State (Colo.) 12-0-1
2 Merrimack (Mass.) 13-0-0
3 Kennesaw State (Ga.) 11-1-0
4 Grand Valley State University (Mich.) 12-1-0
5 UC San Diego 12-1-0
6 Adelphi University (N.Y.) 9-1-1
7 University of West Florida 12-1-1
8 University of Nebraska, Omaha 12-1-1
9 Texas A&M University-Commerce 11-0-2
10 Franklin Pierce College (N.H.) 11-2-0
11 Christian Brothers University (Tenn.) 9-1-1
12 Truman State University (Mo.) 10-1-1
13 Ashland University (Ohio) 11-1-0
13 Cal State Dominguez Hills 11-2-1
15 Seattle University 9-2-1
16 Slippery Rock University (Pa.) 8-2-1
17 Carson-Newman College (Tenn.) 10-2-1
18 University of North Dakota 12-1-0
19 Barry University (Fla.) 7-3-2
20 Seattle Pacific University 10-1-2
21 Presbyterian College (S.C.) 9-2-0
22 West Chester University (Pa.) 7-2-2
23 University of Central Oklahoma 9-1-2
23 University of Wisconsin, Parkside 9-2-2
25 Kutztown University (Pa.) 10-1-2
Also Receiving Votes: Bentley (Mass.), Mesa State (Colo.), Catawba, Northern Kentucky