Back in style. Back in the NCAA men’s soccer tournament in a big way, 5th-ranked Seattle Pacific University will open the Far West Regional in Carson, Ca., this weekend. The Falcons (14-2-3), winners of five in a row, earned the region’s No. 2 seed. They will play No. 20 Sonoma State (12-8-2) in the region’s first-round game Saturday (Nov. 12). The winner advances to meet host and No. 10-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills (16-4-2) Monday afternoon (Nov. 14). The regional champion will be pitted against the Midwest winner in the quarterfinal round Nov. 19.

A new tradition. Back in the day, SPU players and coaches probably took it for granted that they would be involved in postseason action. But a four-year absence has made this year’s accomplishment all the sweeter. As such, none of the players have seen action in a playoff game. Despite playing more than half of their games on the road, the Falcons fought on and on, finally assuring their place with a 1-0 win over the defending national champion on the final day of the regular season. It is the 29th postseason appearance (an NCAA Div. II record). Seattle Pacific has won a total of five national championships (1978, ‘83, ‘5, ‘86 and ‘93).

Back to basics. It was exactly a year ago that coach Cliff McCrath got the bad news that SPU was left out of the NCAA tournament after losing just three games–two to the eventual national champion. He stoked a fire in his returnees, holding three practice sessions past the final regular season game. They have responded this fall by becoming dominant on defense and opportunistic on offense. The Falcons held 12 of their 19 opponents scoreless, none scored more than two goals and the average allowed per game ranked No. 11 in the NCAA. Not since 1991 has the defense allowed fewer goals in the first 19 games. The attack is modest and balanced; six different players have at least three goals and none more than eight.

Some shine bright. Statistics-wise, Ross Vaillancourt (Sr., Bedford, NH/Manchester West) won’t wow anybody (3 goals, 4 assists), but his ball possession skills are All-America caliber. Up front, there is power in Andy Willis (Jr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) and finesse with Jeff Hallenbeck (So., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor). Willis scored eight goals and Hallenbeck six, with four coming in the final five games. Defensively, the Mile High duo of goalkeeper Kellen Rosten (So., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty) and sweeper Matt Kemper (So., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) have played superbly. Rosten’s 10 shutouts led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and is the most by an SPU keeper since ‘99. He was named the GNAC player of the week after his two shutouts last week, including a penalty kick save against Seattle University. Kemper, who moved to the backline in mid-September due to a rash of injuries, has snuffed many a foray with his timely tackles and interceptions.

Road warriors. Playing and winning on the road is nothing new for the Falcons. They spent two consecutive weeks of early September playing a total of five games in California and Colorado, losing only once. In fact, Seattle Pacific is 14-3-3 in its last 20 road games. Each of five NCAA championship teams won at least one game on the road or neutral ground, with four of the five trophies being hauled home from Florida.

It’s who finishes. McCrath has been blessed with depth this season, enabling the squad to persevere through injuries to several key players while also making for a competitive atmosphere in training. When he goes to his bench, the coach has quality personnel, as evidenced by the fact that 17 of the 38 goals have been scored by nonstarters. Supersub James Coggan (So., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian) nodded home the game-winner in the 61st minute vs. Seattle University. McCrath made some changes in his lineup last week, inserting Greg Truax (Sr., Corvallis, Or./Corvallis) and David Reuhl (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Bellevue CC) into the back four. Neither had started consecutive games since mid-September, and Truax had played only once between Sept. 17-Oct. 29.

Where there’s smoke. Three members of the team–Willis, Vaillancourt and Kye Taylor (Sr., Powell River, BC/Cameron)–plus a fourth SPU student escaped from a fire in their rental house in the middle of the night prior to the Seattle U. game. In all, six students, including Michael Morris (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Blanchet) who was also a roommate, lost their home and much of their personal possessions. Vaillancourt was forced to borrow a uniform and wear new shoes for the game. The four are now being housed in an on-campus apartment. According to the players, the apparent cause for the fire was an electrical problem in the heating system.

Throw-ins. The Falcons have found the net first 15 times in 19 games this season and they are unbeaten (25-0-2) in their last 27 games when scoring first...The defense has yielded just 11 goals. The last time SPU allowed fewer than 14 goals in the regular season was 10 in 1991...McCrath’s 577 career victories lead Div. II and rank No. 2 in all of collegiate soccer...Coggan and have each scored four goals at home this season...Vaillancourt has played in 70 consecutive games since his freshman season, starting the last 52 in a row...Willis is No. 2 in GNAC goals (8) and No. 3 in points (18). He is the leader in game-winning goals (5). Steve Spencer (Jr., Scottsdale, Az./Chaparral-Paradise Valley CC) is the co-leader in assists (5), just ahead of Vaillancourt and Morris. Rosten leads the GNAC in GAA (0.56), save percentage (.891) and shutouts (10)...Vaillancourt, Rosten and Kemper have started each game.

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.