Pair of pivotal games. If anything, the next pair of games on the Seattle Pacific University men’s soccer schedule have grown in stature. The Falcons’ (4-0-1) strong start has seen them benefit with a No. 5 ranking among NCAA Division II teams while also placing a bulls-eye on their backs. That makes Saturday’s (Sept. 10) encounter with No. 12 Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-0-0) and next Monday night’s match at Cal State Bakersfield (2-2-0) undoubtedly the biggest of the young season. The two-week, five-game road trip will then move to Colorado for bouts with Regis and Metro State.

Just reward. Slow starts have plagued Seattle Pacific the past few seasons, but not this time around. It’s not just a good beginning but the best in 14 years. The Falcons opened their road trip with a 1-0 overtime victory at Cal Poly Pomona–the team’s third straight and all have been by shutout. But before SPU took the field against the Broncos it had already been rewarded with the first top-10 ranking since 1999. The last time Coach Cliff McCrath’s program emerged unbeaten through six games was 1990 and the best-ever start was 8-0-1 in 1987.

Hail, August-us. Although Seattle Pacific has missed the NCAA tournament the past four seasons, often times it wasn’t by much. And sometimes setbacks in August haunted them come selection time in November. That won’t be the case in ‘05. After going just 3-4-0 in August the last four years, the Falcons were 2-0-1 this year, and they are already 4-0-0 versus teams in the Far West Region with a goal difference of 8-0.

Defense never rests. Not since 1991 has a team gone unbeaten in the first five games and also not in 14 years has an SPU defense proven so stingy early on. The Falcons have allowed only two goals and they will bring a scoreless streak of nearly 325 minutes into Cal State Dominguez Hills. Goalkeeper Kellen Rosten (So., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty) has been rock-solid, making a total of 15 saves in the last three contests, including a career-high nine in the 2-0 decision over Sonoma State to wrap-up GNAC player of the week. His back four of David Reuhl (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Bellevue CC), Drew Macha (So., Eugene, Or./Marist), Sean Sandin (Sr., Renton, Wa./Kentridge) and Kye Taylor (Sr., Powell River, BC/Cameron) has become formidable, and they could become the first unit to post four consecutive shutouts since the NCAA championship club of 1993.

Dome does wonders. For the first couple years, his dome got peoples’ attention. Now it’s his feet. Andy Willis (Jr., Gig Harbor, Wa.) is letting his boots do the talking to the tune of five goals in the first four games, three of them game-winners. Willis scored a brace in a 4-0 win over San Francisco State and added another plus an assist versus Sonoma to assume the Great Northwest Athletic Conference scoring lead. His five goals match his totals of the past two seasons.

Finishing touches. They may not start yet they sure do finish. Nearly half of the Falcons’ goals and three assists have come from nonstarters, including the overtime game-winner by Daniel Carpenter (Fr., Santa Cruz, Ca./Harbor) at Pomona. Twice Carpenter has come off the bench to score. James Coggan (So., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian) and Steve Spencer (Jr., Scottsdale, Az./Chaparral-Paradise Valley CC) each have one goal. Coggan continued his Interbay Stadium magic last week with a goal and two assists. In his last nine home games, Coggan scored seven goals and added four assists.

Road warriors. Extended travel has always been part of the package with SPU soccer, and this two-week venture is a relative lightweight compared to last season’s coast-to-coast, 7-game, 23-day odyssey. While riding around in planes and rented cars and eating and sleeping in strange places gets old fast, winning makes the time pass pleasantly. After Pomona, Seattle Pacific is now 9-1-2 in its last 12 road games.

Throw-ins. Colin Rigby (Jr., Mercer Island, Wa./MI-Denver U.) is now the partner of Willis up front and collected his second assist of the year vs. Sonoma...Ross Vaillancourt (Sr., Bedford, NH/Manchester West) got his first goal of the season vs. SFSU...Rosten’s long goal kick in the waning seconds of the Sonoma game earned him the first assist by a keeper since James Ward in ‘01...Coggan’s goal vs. Sonoma crossed the line as time expired, making it the latest regulation goal. A goal in a 1986 game at 89:57 had held the standard...In its last 17 games when scoring the game’s first goal, SPU is 16-0-1...Rosten leads the GNAC in goals-against average (0.40). He is 17th nationally while Willis is 20th in NCAA scoring...The team is seventh in shutout percentage (0.75) and 14th in scoring defense (0.47).

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.