What a way to go. In a good news, bad news sort of men’s soccer season, Seattle Pacific University finished with its highest victory total in four years, and its fewest losses and best winning percentage (.778) since winning its last NCAA crown in 1993. Still, the Falcons never got a chance to play for their sixth national championship. Such was a very successful and very strange autumn for SPU, which went 13-3-2, took second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and concluded the campaign ranked 25th nationally.

Best ever asterisk? It’s conceivable that the Falcons may rate as the best team ever to miss making the NCAA Division II tournament. Not only did they lose only three games, but two of those losses were to the unbeaten national champion, Seattle University, including one in overtime. SPU entered the final week of the regular season tied for third in the nation’s strongest region, the Far West. At that point they were effectively leapfrogged by Cal State Bakersfield by virtue of the Roadrunners’ victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the CCAA postseason tournament. GNAC teams finished with a record of 22-4-2 versus CCAA teams this season. Seattle Pacific was the only top-25 team which did not earn a postseason invitation.

Luck of the draw. Coach Cliff McCrath sought the toughest possible schedule for his squad in ‘04. The Falcons met last year’s national runner-up, Chico State; the ‘02 NCAA champion, Sonoma State; the ‘00 national champion, Cal State Dominguez Hills, plus perennial national powers Barry and Tampa. But what looked good on paper in August eventually did a disservice to SPU. Of those five teams, only three finished with winning records and Dominguez Hills was the only playoff selection. Consequently, Seattle Pacific’s power rating and strength of schedule–each a key component to NCAA selection–softened just enough to lose the edge over Cal State Bakersfield, which finished with a record of 15-5-4. Next season, McCrath’s tentative schedule has the Falcons visiting both Dominguez Hills and Bakersfield.

Men of honor. Among the six starters scheduled to return next fall are three all-conference selections, including one who was all-region as well. Defensive midfielder Ross Vaillancourt (Jr., Bedford, NH/Manchester West) earned first-team all-GNAC status along with top scorer Brent Egbert (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome). Vaillancourt was the sole SPU representative on the all-Far West selection, making the second team. Voted to the all-conference second team were forwards Nick Letts (Jr., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian) and Andy Willis (So., Gig Harbor, Wa.), defender David Smith (Sr., Corvallis, Or.) and goalkeeper James Ward (Sr., Salem, Or./Sprague). Ward is a three-time selection and the others are two-time picks. Smith made it as a forward in 2001. Freshmen Matt Kemper (Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) and Drew Macha (Eugene, Or./Marist) received honorable mention. Seattle Pacific had the most selections on the academic all-GNAC team. Ward was a three-time selection while Egbert, Vaillancourt and Smith each made it for the second time. First-time honorees were Greg Truax (Jr., Corvallis, Or./Corvallis), Kye Taylor (Jr., Powell River, BC/Cameron) and Michael Morris (So., 3.37, Bothell, Wa./Blanchet).

Solid base. While the Falcons lose five starters to graduation, they could field a fairly experienced team in 10 positions next autumn. For Egbert, McCrath must find an replacement capable of both breaking down defenses 1-on-1 and also scoring 13 goals–the most by any player in the last four seasons. Still, Willis and Letts could form an effective partnership up front, and James Coggan (Fr., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian) demonstrated some offensive flair. Suad Krkic (Jr., Bellevue, Wa./Interlake-Bellevue CC), who was handicapped by a late start, was a proven scorer at the junior college level. The midfield, anchored by Vaillancourt should be solid. Morris, Kemper, Jeff Hallenbeck (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) and Jeremy Bonner (Jr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) combined for 34 starts. Smith, David Selby (Sr., Aloha, Or./Southridge) and Ward leave some big boots to fill on defense, however. Candidates to stand alongside Macha and Sean Sandin (Jr., Renton, Wa./Kentridge) are past starters Taylor and Truax, both hobbled by injuries this season. Kellen Rosten (Fr., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty) is the heir-apparent to Ward in goal.

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.