Opponent and Series Notes

Seattle Pacific is unbeaten (5-0-1) in six previous meetings with Western Washington. Last year the Vikings applied the only blemish to the GNAC record, earning a scoreless tie in Bellingham. A Lovejoy goal was the difference in a 1-0 game at Interbay...SPU has won the last three counters with Seattle University, squaring the series at 3-3-0. Lovejoy’s overtime header off a Henson corner kick lifted Seattle Pacific to its second straight GNAC Championship last November of last year. She also scored in the 1-0 home win. The Redhawks have allowed only two goals thus far.

Senior forward Michelle Sanders has been on a bit of a scoring tear as of late, notching her 21st, 22nd and 23rd career goals in the three matches last week.

Kicks and the city. Undefeated and gathering an impressive head of steam, the 5th-ranked Seattle Pacific University women’s soccer team opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on its home turf midweek, before heading across town for an intracity showdown with national implications this weekend. The Falcons (5-0-0) ride an 18-game Interbay Stadium win streak into Wednesday night’s (Sept. 15) match-up with Western Washington (3-2-0). Then comes Saturday’s (Sept. 18) crosstown commute to meet 10th-rated Seattle University (5-0-1). SPU stays in town next week, hosting Montana State Billings Sept. 22 and Western Oregon Sept. 25.

Stock keeps on rising. The Falcons are off to their best start in history and Coach Chuck Sekyra was undoubtedly pleased with a trio of wins over inter-region opponents last week. A day after SPU disposed of Chico State (3-1) at home, it was rewarded with a No. 5 ranking in the national poll, a jump of 17 spots from its preseason ranking of 22nd. The highest previous ranking had been No. 10 late last season. Sekyra has his sights set not only on returning to the NCAA Division II national tournament, but pursuing a national title. Last year, the Falcons became the first GNAC team to make the playoffs. A new national poll is due Sept. 14, and the Falcons figure to rise again following a loss by Barry, the No. 4 team.

Title defense begins. Seattle Pacific approaches this year’s GNAC campaign as the unanimous favorite of the league coaches, and will attempt to defend its previous two championships. Seattle University and Humboldt State were voted next in line in the preseason poll. The Falcons were unbeaten (11-0-1) in GNAC play last season and have not lost to a conference foe in 20 games, dating back to Sept. 25, 2002.

Interbay streak. Sekyra has praised his stout defense in maintaining the home win streak. Chico State’s Ashley Gunther managed to break a 686-minute string of scoreless minutes for the defense at home. It was one of two scores for opponents on the Falcons’ home field in the last nine matches. All-American goaltender Jennifer Hull (Sr., Eugene, Or./Sheldon) has 0.20 goals-against average, a percentage that is second in the GNAC. Hull is second in save percentage at .929. The starting back line of Katie Lim (Sr., Hillsboro, Or.), Mollie Taylor (So., Westlake Village, Ca./Oaks Christian), Michelle Everson (Jr., Tacoma, Wa./Stadium) and Carolyn Nason (So., Lafayette, Co./Broomfield) have been close to perfect in the Falcons’ perfect start. Statistically, SPU leads the conference in shutouts (4) and goals-against average (0.20).

3 in 3. Senior forward Michelle Sanders (Sr., Centralia, Wa.) has been on a bit of a scoring tear as of late. Sanders notched her 21st, 22nd and 23rd career goals in the three matches last week. Last year’s team goals and points leader, All-American midfielder Shannon Lovejoy (Jr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep), added a pair of scores and assists, respectively, including a nifty one-touch off double-crosses from teammates Megan Lienhard (Jr., Everett, Wa./Cascade) and Jessica Henson (Sr., Spokane, Wa./University) in the Cal State L.A. (2-0) contest. Henson garnered two assists in the wins last week. Lovejoy has figured into SPU’s scoring in some capacity in each of the last four matches.

Firsts. Rookie striker Sarah Martinez (Fr., Bothell, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) punched home the first two goals of her collegiate career last week, with unassisted strikes versus Chico State and at San Francisco State (2-0). Martinez and Kara Hamby (Fr., Spokane, Wa./Mead) have been the only freshman earning regular minutes in Sekyra’s lineup. Heidi Jacobson (Jr., Kirkland, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) returned to action after sitting out the Chico contest and converted a Lovejoy pass into a goal at Cal State L.A.

Footnotes. On the GNAC front, only the Falcons and Seattle U are unblemished at 5-0, and 5-0-1, respectively...Sekyra is potentially seven deep at the halfback position, and continued to experiment with different lineups in the matches last week. Marking halfback Sarah Melby (Sr., Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) and Henson were the starting fixtures and Allison Teague (Jr., Redmond, Wa./Bellevue Christian) and Leila Stalnaker (Sr., Auburn, Wa./Seattle Christian) came off the bench in midfield reserve roles...Sanders and Lovejoy are tied for third in the conference statistics in points and are Nos. 3 and 7 in goals...Lovejoy is tied with Henson at third in assists...Teamwise, the Falcons rate second in goals per game...During Sekyra’s brief tenure, SPU has won 22 of 26 games, posting 19 shutouts...Sanders has three career goals and four assists vs. Western Washington...SPU cracked a season-high 23 shots at San Francisco State.

Tickets, Please. Ticket prices for all SPU regular season home games are $5 for general admission, with students and senior citizens $3. Group and team rates are available by phoning (206) 281-2085 in advance.

SPU Coaching Staff. Chuck Sekyra was voted coach of the year in the GNAC after taking the Falcons to a league title, NCAA playoff berth and a 17-2-2 record in his first season. Seykra, an assistant at Washington for three seasons, has close ties to the Puget Sound soccer community and to Seattle Pacific in particular. He is a graduate of SPU, played on two NCAA championship teams and was assistant men’s coach from 1998-99. Sekyra was a starter on the ‘86 squad which became the first in Division II history to win back-to-back NCAA crowns. He is head coach of the Washington State girls ODP Under-16 team and a Region IV ODP staff coach. Goalkeeper coach Kevin Blokker returns for his second year on the staff after previously coaching at San Francisco (his alma mater), Wyoming, Fresno State and Kansas. Julie Cain is back for her third year. She both played and coached at Westmont. Chalise Baysa is new to the staff in 2004. She is Oregon’s all-time scoring leader and now plays for the W-League Seattle Sounders.

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.