SEATTLE (Oct. 5) - Three and a half seasons after playing the first game, Seattle Pacific University has a women's soccer program which is second to none. The undefeated Falcons (10-0-1) rose to No. 1 in NCAA Division II following two more victories last week.

Seattle Pacific replaced Franklin Pierce (NH) at the top of the rankings. Missouri's Truman State and Pennsylvania's Slippery Rock are Nos. 2 and 3.

"It's an honor and very rewarding to be voted No.1," said Coach Chuck Sekyra. "No matter what our ranking, we're still the same team and our goal remains to get better with each game.

"Ultimately, we want to be No. 1 in December, when it matters most," added Sekyra. " Right now our goal is to make the NCAA playoffs again. This kind of ranking demonstrates that we're on the right track."

The SPU program has been on the rise since first taking the field in 2001. It claimed Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships in '02 and '03, and also made the NCAA tournament a year ago. Six seniors still remain from the inaugural season.

The Falcons, off to their best start and winners of four in a row, will take their top ranking on the road for the next six games, beginning Saturday against Cal State San Bernardino in Seaside, Ca.

Rank     School               W-L-T
1. Seattle Pacific           10-0-1
2. Truman State (Mo.)         9-0-1
3. Slippery Rock (Pa.)        9-0-1
4. Barry (Fl.)                6-1-0
5. Metro State (Co.)         10-1-0
6.tie Merrimack (Ma.)         8-2-1
6. Southampton (N.Y.)         9-0-1
8. Ashland (Oh.)              9-1-1
9. Tusculum College (Tn.)     8-1-1
10. Seattle University       10-1-2
11. Franklin Pierce (N.H.)    8-1-0
12. Catawba  (N.C.)          10-0-0
13. Nebraska Omaha            9-2-1
14. Texas A&M Commerce        9-3-1
15. Wisconsin-Parkside       10-1-0
16. Saint Rose (N.Y.)         7-0-2
17. Lincoln Memorial (Tn.)    8-0-0
18. Adelphi (NY)              8-1-0
19. UC San Diego              9-1-0
20. Carson-Newman (Tn.)       8-1-1
21. Regis (Co.)               9-2-0
22. Southwest Baptist (Mo.)   7-1-1
23. Harding (Ar.)            11-1-1
24. Northern Kentucky         8-3-0
25. Sonoma State (Ca.)        7-3-0