A formula for success. Nothing, not even the losses have come easy for the Seattle Pacific University men’s soccer squad. Yet there is the hope that a permanent change in scenery will do the trick. The Falcons (1-1-1/6-6-2) take a five-game home win streak into Friday afternoon’s (Oct. 24) Great Northwest Athletic Conference game with Humboldt State (0-3-0/2-14-0). It is the first of five straight home games to conclude the regular season. Next week, Simon Fraser and Seattle University visit Interbay Stadium.

Oh, the agony. The hardest losses to swallow are usually those which slip from grasp, and for Seattle Pacific the 2003 season has offered one bitter pill after another. Five of the Falcons’ six defeats have been by one goal, including two in overtime. Four of them have come against the top five teams in the Far West Region, and all on the road. And now it seems that a date with the NCAA Division II playoffs will have to wait another year, following a 2-1 loss to Cal State San Bernardino earlier this week. It marked the first time in two seasons that SPU had scored first but then been beaten.

Eye on the prize. Although a postseason berth is not totally out of the question, it’s a longshot at best. A conference crown, however, remains within reach. Seattle Pacific is halfway through the GNAC schedule and, given its home record, could quickly jump back in the hunt with victories over Humboldt and Seattle U., the current leader. It’s possible that the conference title could come down to Nov. 5, when defending champion Western Washington comes to Interbay.

Goals, goals, goals. Whoever said that defense wins championships must have assumed that scoring was a given. The Falcons have remained competitive by being aggressive and stingy at the back, because the attack has failed to generate many goals. In fact, they need to score 17 times in the final five outings to avoid the worst season total in 33 years. Nineteen balls have gone in the net to date. By comparison, SPU had scored 20 goals in the first six games of last season. Defensively, the 17 goals allowed compares favorably with most of the 28 playoff teams from 1971-00.

On the bright side. It takes a discerning eye, but there are signs that a goal rush is forthcoming. First, the Falcons are averaging 2.0 goals per game at home, where they defeated Pacific Lutheran 3-2 last week. Secondly, they are averaging 3.8 goals against Humboldt State in the last six meetings. And finally, they have some key figures who are beginning to break out. Forward Andy Willis (Fr., Gig Harbor, Wa.) has contributed three goals and one assist in the last five games, and is now the team leader with four goals. David Smith (Jr., Corvallis, Or.), a scorer of 13 goals in his first two seasons, finally got his first goal versus San Bernardino.

Pillars in the middle. Two of the bright spots for Coach Cliff McCrath have been the three players who comprise the lower spine of the lineup. Sweeper Matt Laughlin (Sr., Selah, Wa.) has snuffed-out many an opposing foray while Ross Vaillancourt (So., Manchester,, N.H.), although often playing out of position at stopper, has played both ballwinner and distributor in midfield. Vaillancourt scored his first two goals of the season last week, including the game-winner at Grand Canyon. James Ward (Jr., Salem, Or./Sprague) owns the top goalkeeping statistics in the GNAC, and has also played strong in the field, either at forward or midfield, when the team has trailed in the second half.

Footnotes. Members of the 1978 national championship team, celebrating the 25th anniversary of that feat, will be among those honored at the Nov. 1 game with Seattle U...The win over PLU was the first in the last six games which went to overtime. Jeremy Bonner (So., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) scored the deciding goal in the 107th minute...Temperatures reached 100 degrees for Monday’s midday game with Cal State San Bernardino in Phoenix...Ward’s goals-against average of 1.13 and his four shutouts lead the conference. Willis is tied for fourth among GNAC players in goals.

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.