Two to go. Unbeaten in its last 53 regular season games and soaring down the final stretch of the regular season schedule, the No. 2-ranked Seattle Pacific University women’s soccer team embarks on its final road trip for a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference road matches this week. The Falcons (7-0-1/14-0-2) can clinch at least a share of the GNAC title if they post wins at Humboldt State (2-5-1/6-9-1) Thursday (Oct. 27) and Western Oregon (4-5-0/7-10-0) Saturday (Oct. 29). Seattle Pacific returns to Interbay Stadium to close out the regular season with two games, beginning Nov. 2.

Down the stretch. Nobody’s perfect, but heading into the last four games of the schedule, Seattle Pacific’s record is still something to behold. Despite being drawn 1-1 by Simon Fraser, the No. 6 team in NAIA, the Falcons held on to their No. 2 ranking in NCAA Division II. An overwhelming 7-0 win over Northwest Nazarene last week solidified their grip on the No. 1 spot in the Far West Region. In addition to the GNAC championship, SPU is also close to clinching the top seed and right to host the Far West Regional. According to the NCAA it was rated above UC San Diego, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Stanislaus prior to a second straight loss by UCSD last week. Four teams will receive regional postseason berths. Defending national champion Metro State (Co.) continues to sit atop the NCSAA coaches poll.

Streaks still alive. Coach Chuck Sekyra saw his team create numerous quality scoring chances against Simon Fraser, but the Falcons were unable to capitalize and had to settle for their second tie of the season. In doing so, Seattle Pacific received its first blemish on its home record (8-0-1). Three days later, Sekyra got credit for his 50th career victory versus NNU while the team’s unbeaten streak reached 53 (49-0-4). The GNAC unbeaten run sits at 40 in a row (37-0-3). The Falcons are vying for their fourth straight conference title, and have been to the NCAA playoffs the last two years. Seattle U. is the only other conference foe still alive in the title race and the Redhawks visit Interbay Nov. 5. Presently, Seattle Pacific needs seven more points (3 for a win, 1 for a tie) to earn the GNAC trophy outright.

Magical Megan. After out-shooting Simon Fraser 23-5 yet having little to show for it, the Falcons took out their scoring frustration on Northwest Nazarene. The team had managed to score just five times in its pervious four games, but in a span of just over 8 minutes it erupted for four goals against the Crusaders. Megan Lienhard (Sr., Everett, Wa./Cascade) struck three of the blows for her second career hat trick and her assist on a fourth goal sewed-up GNAC player of the week for the second week in a row. Her 26 goals and 21 assists place her No. 6 on the GNAC career scoring list and No. 3 at SPU.

Name recognition. Some familiar names were back on the scoresheet last week and hopefully that bodes well for the offensive firepower during the stretch run. Career scoring leader Shannon Lovejoy (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep.) got the lone goal versus Simon Fraser. In addition to Lienhard, the duo of Heidi Jacobson (Sr., Kirkland, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) and Sarah Martinez (So., Bothell, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) produced big numbers against NNU. After being held scoreless in six games, Martinez notched her ninth and 10th goals of the year while Jacobson scored her 11th. The Falcons’ set plays were also clicking once again, with Carolyn Nason (Jr., Lafayette, Co./Broomfield) heading in one of the team’s nine corner kicks for her fourth goal of the year but the first since Sept. 3.

A great lift. All-America sweeper Michelle Everson (Sr., Tacoma, Wa./Stadium) returned to the fold last week, coming off the bench vs. NNU after missing four games due to injury. Starters Claire Grubbs (Fr., Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls), Katie Taylor (Fr., Vancouver, Wa./Columbia River), Meredith Teague (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Bellevue Christian) and Nason helped hold opponents to just nine combined shots in the two games, and Taylor assisted on the Nason goal. All three keepers saw time in the NNU match, as Jen Burns (Fr., Boise, Id./Capital) exited the first half with a pair of saves, and Katie Ruggles (Jr., Eugene, Or./South Eugene) and Erin Pierce (Sr., Milwaukie, Or./Rex Putnam) split the second half. Ruggles played the entire SFU match.

Footnotes. Metro State remains the only team with an unblemished record (18-0-0). The Roadrunners visit No. 20 Regis Wednesday...Samantha Hufford (Jr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake/Wash. St.) sat out Saturday’s match after suffering a concussion against the Clan and starting fullback Mollie Taylor (Jr., Westlake Village, Ca./Oaks Christian) will undergo surgery on an injured knee and miss the remainder of the season...Jacobson leads the Falcons and the GNAC in goals (11) and points (27). She had two assists last week. Jacobson is the GNAC co-leader in game-winning goals (3) along with Martinez and with SU’s Ashley Porter. Martinez is No. 2 in GNAC goals (10) and points (24)...Lovejoy is No. 4 in points (17) and second in assists (9)...After Saturday, Lienhard jumped to third in goals (8) and is No. 6 in points (20)...Before last week’s games, SPU ranked No. 5 nationally in goals-against average (0.419) and No. 15 in offense (3.21 GPG). Burns was No. 5 in goals-against average (now 0.39)...The team’s last outright loss was Nov. 13, 2004 against Seattle U. in the NCAA Far West Region title game. The last regular season loss was Sept. 1, 2003 at Cal State Dominguez Hills and last GNAC loss was Sept. 25, 2002 at Seattle U.

Coaching Staff. Chuck Sekyra was voted coach of the year for the second consecutive time in the GNAC after taking the Falcons to a league title, NCAA playoff berth and a 19-1-2 record in his second season. Seykra, an assistant at Washington for three seasons, has close ties to the Puget Sound soccer community and to Seattle Pacific in particular. He is a graduate of SPU, played on two NCAA championship teams and was assistant men¹s coach from 1998-99. Sekyra was a starter on the Œ86 squad which became the first in Division II history to win back-to-back national crowns. He is head coach of the Washington State girls ODP Under-16 team and a Region IV ODP staff coach. Goalkeeper coach Kevin Blokker returns for his third year on the staff after previously coaching at San Francisco (his alma mater), Wyoming, Fresno State and Kansas. Chalise Baysa, Oregon¹s all-time scoring leader, is in her second season on the staff. She now plays for the W-League Seattle Sounders.

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.