Friday night lights. They have met 54 times in the past, but the crosstown clash between the Seattle Pacific University and Seattle U. men's soccer teams has never had more luster than the game awaiting Friday night (Oct. 8) at Interbay Stadium. The 11th-ranked Falcons (2-0-0/9-1-1) will take a 10-game unbeaten streak and string of seven straight wins into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference game against the No. 2 and undefeated Redhawks (2-0-0/12-0-1). Another contest with a playoff contender comes Oct. 16 at Western Washington, followed by a three-game home stand.

Looking to turn the tide. There are only so many (three, to be precise) postseason bids available in the Far West Region of NCAA Division II, and currently SPU and Seattle U. are among the frontrunners. The Falcons are seeking their first tournament berth since 2000 and a win over the Redhawks would further validate Seattle Pacific's reemergence as a national power. Its been four years and six meetings (five one-goal losses and an tie) since SPU last posted a victory in the intracity derby, which dates to 1968. Friday's victor will also take over the lead in the GNAC at the halfway point. This year's strong start ranks second only to a 10-1-0 record to begin 1985.

Eggin' Oem on. What's been missing has now been found. A sluggish attack over the past three seasons has been brought to life in the first 11 games. And the catalyst is the lone remaining player with any NCAA playoff experience. Brent Egbert (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome), a fifth-year senior midfielder, is on a scoring rampage during the unbeaten streak, having scored all of his 11 goals and five assists in the past nine matches. Egbert collected three more goals in wins over Montana State Billings (5-1) and Humboldt State (3-2) last week. His two goals in the latter game came just 22 seconds apart. Egbert, with 27 points, is now tied for second in GNAC scoring.

The odd goal. The big differences in this year's team are a substantial improvement in creating and finishing chances, and a competitiveness in close contests. The Falcons are averaging 2.45 goals and 15.1 shots, compared to 1.52 and 11.6 from a year ago, when they finished 9-8-2. They have already matched last season's win total by persevering in tense situations. SPU is 6-1 in games decided by one goal. In the past four seasons they were a combined 14-18 in such situations. The winning goal in each of the six one-goal decisions has come after the 55th minute. Not since 1993 and O94 has Seattle Pacific owned such a decisive advantage in close games. In O94 it was 4-1 and reached the NCAA semifinals and in O93 it was 6-1 in en route to taking the national title.

A nod to the frosh. Coach Cliff McCrath has some veteran leaders in Egbert and four other seniors and a total of 13 upperclassmen. Yet the freshmen are making their mark, and making a difference. Drew Macha (Fr., Eugene, Or./Marist) has started all 11 games in central defense; Matt Kemper (Fr., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) has appeared in each game as a midfield reserve; and both James Coggan (Fr., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian) and Jeff Hallenbeck (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) have created quite an attacking stir when coming off the bench. Coggan, Hallenbeck and Nate Elmenhurst (Fr., Bothell, Wa./Woodinville) each got their first collegiate goal in the MSU Billings game.

Smitty's nose for the net. Former forward and team scoring leader David Smith (Sr., Corvallis, Or./Corvallis) got his third game-winning goal in five outings against Humboldt State. Smith leaped to head home a free kick to break a 2-2 tie in the 56th minute. Ironically, despite moving to defense this season, Smith's goal total of three has already surpassed that of his junior season. The team's 27 goals is just two shy of last year's 19-game sum of 29.

Throw-ins. Somewhat in explicably, the Falcons dropped one spot, from No. 10 to 11, in this week's national rankings. Carson-Newman (Tn.) took over as the No. 1 team from Incarnate Word (Tx.)...Ross Vaillancourt (Jr., Bedford, NH/Manchester West) set-up two of the three first-half goals vs. MSUB. Andy Willis (So., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) volleyed in the first strike for his fourth goal of the year and also added an assist...McCrath has yet to have a full compliment of players this season, due to injuries, illness and other absences. Currently, he's without forward Nick Letts (Jr., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian) and defender Greg Truax (Jr., Corvallis, Or.), both projected to be starters coming out of last spring. Letts has missed the last four games with a knee injury and Truax has yet to play while recovering from a preseason foot fracture...Suad Krkic (Jr., Bellevue, Wa./Interlake-BCC) saw his first action, playing 30 minutes in each game...Egbert is No. 3 in GNAC goals and tied for No. 2 in assists (5). Willis is tied for sixth in total points (9)...The last SPU player to score more than 10 goals in a season was Dana Garner, with 16 in 2000...SPU is 58-14-2 all-time at Interbay. Five of the final seven games will be played there...Six players have started all 11 games: Egbert, Vaillancourt, Smith, Macha, James Ward (Sr., Salem, Or./Sprague) and David Selby (Sr., Aloha, Or./Southridge)...The team last won seven in a row in 2000, when there was a 12-game unbeaten run (including nine straight wins) to conclude the regular season...SPU has out-scored opponents 15-4 in the first half.

Coaching Staff. Cliff McCrath is the Division II leader in career coaching victories (550). In 2002 he surpassed San Francisco’s retired Steve Negoesco to briefly become collegiate soccer’s leader for all divisions. McCrath has led SPU to a record 27 NCAA playoff appearances, including berths in 17 of the last 20 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), Sergio Soriano (‘78 NCAA winners) and Mark Collings (‘98 Final Four).

Tickets, Please. Ticket prices for all SPU regular season home games are $7 for reserved and $5 for general admission, with students and senior citizens receiving G.A. tickets for $3. Group and team rates are available by phoning (206) 281-2085 in advance.

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.