Settling in. Unbeaten on the road but still a bit unsettled at home, Seattle Pacific University begins a three-game men’s soccer home stand Tuesday night (Oct. 19) against Simon Fraser (10-3-0), the No. 10 team in NAIA. Next for the 17th-ranked Falcons (10-2-1) come intra-regional bouts with Grand Canyon (3-12-1) Friday night (Oct. 22) and Chico State Oct. 27. Four of the final five regular season games will be played at Interbay Stadium.

In the picture. Entering the last three weeks of the season, Seattle Pacific finds itself with a solid record and yet a lot of work left to be done. After last week’s 1-0 win at Western Washington, the Falcons have already eclipsed the ‘03 win total with 10. Still, it may require 15 to earn them one of the three allotted NCAA Division II postseason berths in the Far West Region. The two losses were both at home to the region’s top two sides, Seattle University and Cal State Dominguez Hills. SPU’s first victory over a regionally-ranked team was at Western, and it is now unbeaten in its last eight road games, winning the last six.

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 and– excluding a 5-1 homecoming romp vs. Montana State Billings–have allowed each visitor some hope from the outset. SPU has held a halftime lead just once at home and has conceded the game’s first goal three times. Simon Fraser has been the most unpleasant guest, winning three times in five visits to Interbay, including a 2-0 victory in last year. Seattle Pacific is 58-15-2 all-time at Interbay.

Open the tap. Goals, which have been hard to come by in the past couple games, would obviously aid the Falcons’ cause down the stretch. After a run in which it averaged 3.3 goals during seven consecutive wins, Seattle Pacific has scored just once in the last two outings. Coach Cliff McCrath addressed the issue by inserting Jeff Hallenbeck (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) into the starting lineup at Bellingham. So far, so good. Hallenbeck, the state 4A co-player of the year last spring, connected on the game’s only goal in the 59th minute. Hallenbeck was making his first collegiate start and was one of three freshmen on the field for the opening kickoff, joining midfielder Matt Kemper (Fr., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) and defender Drew Macha (Fr., Eugene, Or./Marist), who has started all 13 games.

Blankety-blank. Fortunately the defense, which had been loosening, is holding tight. The shutout at Western Washington was the first in seven games and fourth overall. Goalkeeper James Ward (Sr., Salem, Or./Sprague) made four saves to earn his 16th career clean sheet and right back David Selby (Sr., Aloha, Or./Southridge) initiated the scoring play by sending a long free kick to the top of the box for Brent Egbert (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) to flick over the keeper to Hallenbeck. Egbert, the No. 3 scorer in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, has contributed at least one point in 10 of the last 11 games and leads the team with 11 goals, six assists and 28 points.

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 to play in the last two games and defender Greg Truax (Jr., Corvallis, Or.) has now been cleared to return from a foot fracture...Midfielder Michael Brkich (Sr., Vancouver, B.C./Vienna Christian) was back in the starting 11 at Western. Brkich, who has also been plagued by injury this fall, had not started since Sept. 18 and missed five games altogether...The team’s 28 goals is one shy of last year’s 19-game sum of 29...Egbert is No. 3 in GNAC goals, No. 3 in assists and tied for third in game-winning goals (3) with teammate David Smith (Sr., Corvallis, Or.). Andy Willis (So., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) is tied for ninth in total points (9). Ward is No. 3 in both goals-against average (1.00) and shutouts (3)...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.