Home cookin’. After a couple road tests with encouraging results, Seattle Pacific University plays a pair of men’s soccer games at home before a two-week excursion to California and Colorado. The Falcons (1-0-1) host San Francisco State (1-0-0) in the home opener at Interbay Stadium Wednesday night (Aug. 31), then face Sonoma State (0-1-1) Saturday evening (Sept. 3). After that, the next five are out of town, beginning Sept. 6 at Cal Poly Pomona.

Wide open race. If the opening week of play was any indication, the race for the three postseason berths in the Far West Region is wide open, and right now Seattle Pacific is sitting pretty. The Falcons notched a road win at Chico State–an outcome which looked even better after the Wildcats beat defending NCAA Division II champion Seattle University three days later. The next five games are an opportunity for Coach Cliff McCrath’s squad to further strengthen its position within the region, with all of those contests coming against members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Last year, despite an in-region record of 10-3-1, SPU was the only top-25 team which did not earn a postseason berth.

August or bust. Historically, Seattle Pacific’s seasons are only as good the starts. Against San Francisco State, the Falcons have a chance to bag two wins in August for the first time since 2000, when they last qualified for the playoffs. In the last four seasons, SPU was just 3-4-0 in August.

The Interbay equation. Since Interbay Stadium opened in 1997, Seattle Pacific has won 79 percent of its home games, but early, before the students arrive back on campus, the Falcons have proven vulnerable at times. McCrath would like to change that to venerable this time around. If anyone made himself at home at Interbay last season it was James Coggan (So., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian). In his last seven home games, Coggan scored six goals and added two assists.

Andy’s No. 1. He wears a jersey number (1) which is almost exclusively reserved for goalies, and his broad shoulders, shaven head and aggressive style are quite striking as well. But what gets everyone’s attention is that Andy Willis (Jr., Gig Harbor, Wa.) is scoring goals. Willis belted a couple balls into the net last week to earn Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the week. His second-half strike against Chico State was the only goal of the game, and he let go with a ferocious shot to open the scoring of a 2-2 tie with Fresno Pacific. Thanks to the footwork of Willis and Steve Spencer (Jr., Scottsdale, Az./Chaparral-Paradise Valley CC), who scored the tying goal versus the Sunbirds, the attack and the team are off to the strongest start in three years.

Change is good. Without question, this is a new-look SPU squad. There were five new starters in the lineup on opening night, and two newcomers were in the first 11 versus Fresno Pacific. David Reuhl (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Bellevue CC) got the starting call at right back in both games. Colin Rigby (Jr., Mercer Island, Wa./MI-Denver U.) was alongside Willis up front and contributed an assist on Spencer’s goal. In goal, Kellen Rosten (So., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty) made his first collegiate starts and was credited with a total of 10 saves. The six holdover starters are stopper Drew Macha (So., Eugene, Or./Marist), left back Sean Sandin (Sr., Renton, Wa./Kentridge), midfielders Ross Vaillancourt (Sr., Bedford, NH/Manchester West), Matt Kemper (So., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) and Michael Morris (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Blanchet), and Willis. Jeff Hallenbeck (So., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) and Kye Taylor (Sr., Powell River, BC/Cameron) also started each game.

Throw-ins. In its last 14 games when scoring the game’s first goal, SPU is 13-0-1...The Falcons are 8-1-2 in their last 11 games on the road...Taylor’s header set-up the Willis goal vs. Chico State and Hallenbeck’s corner kick found Willis vs. Fresno Pacific...In addition to the aforementioned starters, Jeremy Bonner (Sr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake), Nick Letts (Sr., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian), Coggan, Spencer, Daniel Carpenter (Fr., Santa Cruz, Ca./Harbor) and Colin Kosco (Fr., Edmonds, Wa./Meadowdale) played in each of the first two games, with Letts starting the opener...SPU finished with the best record at Chico’s West Coast Classic, collecting four points to three each by Seattle U. and Chico State.

Coaching Staff. Cliff McCrath is the Division II leader in career coaching victories (563). 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 21 years, and five national titles (1978, ‘83, ‘85, ‘86 and ‘93). His staff includes former Falcons Mark Collings (‘98 Final Four), Mark Metzger (‘78 championship team), and Sergio Soriano (‘78 NCAA winners).

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.