Footnotes

Western Washington’s seven-game win streak was snapped at home by Seattle U., 4-0, last week. The Vikings face Simon Fraser on the road Oct. 13. They feature senior forward Ryan Hopp, whose 12 goals puts him No. 2 in the GNAC. SPU leads the all-time series 31-9-4, but the teams are 2-2-2 over the past six meetings...Simon Fraser takes a four-game win streak into its bout with Western. Andrew Corrazza has scored 16 goals and the Clan is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings to take a 20-15-5 lead in the series.

One player who could literally make himself feel at home Saturday is Brent Egbert -- he's from Bellingham.

Going north. There’s beginning to be a squeeze at the top of the conference and regional standings, and Saturday night’s (Oct. 16) men’s soccer showdown between Seattle Pacific University and Western Washington (1-1-0, 10-3-0) will give one team the upper hand. The 17th-ranked Falcons (2-1-0, 9-2-1) hope to resume road warrior status, having gone unbeaten this season in seven away games, including wins in the last five. SPU opens a three-game homestand next Tuesday (Oct. 19) against Simon Fraser (9-2-0), the No. 10 team in NAIA.

Magic bus? Maybe it’s the pregame meals in strange restaurants or the heightened sensitivity to new surroundings. But whatever the reason, Seattle Pacific has played better and enjoyed more success when separated from their creature comforts of home. The Falcons went 6-0-1 during a 25-day road trip in September, and would like to pick up where they left off in Florida, attacking with commitment and beating any foe, anywhere. That won’t be easy in Bellingham; Western Washington is traditionally stingy on its home field and has allowed only three goals and earned two ties with SPU in the last three meetings there. Seattle Pacific averaged 3.29 goals per game during a recent seven-game win streak before being blanked 2-0 at home by Seattle University, the new No. 1 team in NCAA Division II.

It’s home to him. One player who could literally make himself feel at home Saturday is Brent Egbert (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome), the team’s scoring ace. Egbert will have family and friends watching him in his final collegiate appearance in his hometown. Elsewhere this fall, he’s been the man everyone’s got an eye on, scoring 11 goals over a span of nine games. His 27 total points puts him No. 2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, No. 22 in the nation and helped place his mug in the Faces in the Crowd section of this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated. Until the Seattle U. contest, he had contributed either a goal or an assist in nine consecutive games–just four shy of the school record. His goal total is already the best by an SPU player in the last four years.

The bounce effect. With only three berths allotted to each of the regions in Div. II and the Far West abundant in playoff-contending teams, the Falcons can ill-afford to drop another intra-region game. Both losses this season have come to the Far West frontrunners, SU and Cal State Dominguez Hills (each a top-10 team at the time). Following a loss to the latter, SPU reeled off a 10-game unbeaten string. With five of the six remaining games involving regional opponents, it may need to do something similar to earn a postseason bid next month. NCAA tournament brackets will be announced Nov. 8.

Conference call. If Seattle Pacific intends to break Seattle U.’s stranglehold on the GNAC crown, it needs to start immediately. The Redhawks are perched atop the standings yet again, with a 4-0-0 mark and the only remaining dates at home against SPU and Western. Coach Cliff McCrath will need to run the table, with the Falcons winning their remaining three league games to have a chance at wresting the trophy from SU, which has housed it two of the last three seasons (the Vikings prevailed in 2002).

What’s up with Interbay? Strangely, the Falcons have yet to establish themselves as a formidable force at home this season. They are just 3-2-0 at Interbay Stadium and – excluding a 5-1 homecoming romp vs. Montana State Billings – have allowed each visitor some hope from the outset. SPU has yet to hold a halftime lead at home and has conceded the game’s first goal three times. Simon Fraser, which visits next week, has been the most unpleasant guest, winning three of the Clan’s five visits to Interbay, including a 2-0 victory in ‘03. Seattle Pacific is 58-15-2 all-time at Interbay. Four of the final five games will be played there.

Throw-ins. Healthwise, the team is now stronger than ever this season. Forward Nick Letts (Jr., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian), sidelined by a knee injury, returned after a four-game absence vs. Seattle U. and defender Greg Truax (Jr., Corvallis, Or.) has now been cleared to return from a foot fracture...David Smith (Sr., Corvallis, Or./Corvallis) produced the two best scoring chances vs. Seattle U., with a first-half rocket cleared by a defender and another blast in the 85th minute glancing off the post...The team’s 27 goals is just two shy of last year’s 19-game sum of 29...Egbert is No. 3 in GNAC goals and No. 3 in assists (5). Andy Willis (So., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) is tied for eighth in total points (9)...Six players have started all 12 games: Egbert, Drew Macha (Fr., Eugene, Or./Marist), Smith, Drew Macha (Fr., Eugene, Or./Marist), James Ward (Sr., Salem, Or./Sprague) and David Selby (Sr., Aloha, Or./Southridge)...SPU has out-scored opponents 15-5 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.