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Ever Closer: Will ‘06 Be Falcons’ Golden Year?
Men Finish 7th Nationally; Vaillancourt Voted All-America
December 20, 2005

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Throw-ins

McCrath expects to announce commitments from a handful of recruits during the signing period, which begins Feb. 1. Justin Abel has already transferred from St. John’s after playing two years for the Red Storm. Abel, a native of Snohomish, was a three-time ODP regional team member. He started four games in midfield as a sophomore...Next season’s schedule begins a week earlier due to the NCAA Fall Championships Festival in Pensacola, Fl., Nov. 15-20. Currently, the tentative schedule for the Falcons begins with a three-game home stand Aug. 24-29 which includes UC San Diego, Chico State and Cal State Dominguez Hills. SPU will play Grand Canyon, Seattle University, Western Washington and Notre Dame de Namur twice each. Non-conference road games include Sonoma State, Cal State L.A., San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay...The Falcons scored first 17 times this season and they had been unbeaten (26-0-2) in their last 28 games when scoring first until Cal State Dominguez Hills came from behind...Eighteen of the 41 goals were scored by nonstarters...McCrath was last voted regional coach of the year in 1998. His 577 career victories lead Div. II and rank No. 2 in all of collegiate soccer...Seattle Pacific is 14-4-3 in its last 21 road games...Coggan, Spencer and Letts shared the GNAC lead with five assists. Willis led the way in game-winning goals (5) and was No. 3 in total points. Rosten had the best GAA and shutout total (11)...Three players–Vaillancourt, Rosten and Kemper–started each game...Saint Martin’s will join the GNAC soccer alignment in ‘07 after one season with a club program. Humboldt State is leaving for the CCAA next season...Rosten’s shutout total is the highest since 1993 and ties for No. 5 all-time. His GAA was the best since Johann Noetzel’s 0.52 in 1999...Marcus Hahnemann is considered a strong candidate for the U.S. World Cup team in Germany next summer. Hahnemann’s Reading FC is in first place in the English League Championship and on track for promotion to the Premier League...The NCAA crown remained in the West as Colorado’s Fort Lewis defeated Franklin Pierce 3-1 in the national championship game.

Closer still. Sometimes a special season can be seen coming from a distance, and for Seattle Pacific University the outlook for the 2006 men’s soccer season is especially bright. The Falcons (15-3-3) finished their best season in seven years with a second-round exit from the NCAA Division II tournament Nov. 14, and they were ranked No. 7 in the final national poll. Eight starters are due to return next fall.

One of the best. It’s fair to say that SPU was worthy of its highest final national ranking in seven years, and then some. The winning percentage of .785 and 15 victories were the best since winning the fifth national title in 1993. Unfortunately, the Falcons were forced to play their two playoff games on the road, including a 2-1 overtime loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Far West Region championship game. Beforehand, Seattle Pacific had eliminated Sonoma State, the CCAA winner, 2-0 in the first round. As it turned out, the team played 13 of its 21 games on the road. At home, the record was 7-0-1 and SPU will take a 13-game home unbeaten string into next season. The program’s 29th postseason appearance established a new NCAA Div. II record.

Going out on top. Three starters and six altogether will graduate, and coach Cliff McCrath will must fill an obvious void in central midfield. That’s the domain of Ross Vaillancourt (Sr., Bedford, NH/Manchester West), who was voted third team All-America. Vaillancourt was a four-year starter, four-time all-conference selection and twice all-region. He became the program’s 19th All-American and the first since Dana Garner in 2000. McCrath was voted the regional coach of the year and is a finalist for the NSCAA national coach of the year.

Best of the Far West. Joining Vaillancourt on the all-region team were three teammates who will help form the foundation next year. Goalkeeper Kellen Rosten (So., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty) made the first team while forward Andy Willis (Jr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) and sweeper Matt Kemper (So., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) were second team selections. Rosten finished second in the nation in save percentage (.889) and sixth in goals-against average (0.60). Earlier he had been voted the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year. Willis was the team leader in total points (19). Kemper had moved from midfield to the backline because of injuries and performed admirably.

Witness for defense. Offensively, the Falcons’ numbers are nothing to strike fear in the hearts of foes. Yet because of a tight defense, they didn’t need to. Seattle Pacific allowed only 13 goals, tying a school record first set in 1980 and tied in 1987. The GAA of 0.60 was No. 6 in the nation and the 13 shutouts constituted the No. 2 percentage (0.62). What’s perhaps most impressive is the fact that injuries forced McCrath to constantly shuffle the back four, with nine different players starting. Of those, Kemper and Colin Kosco (Fr., Lynnwood, Wa./Meadowdale) earned all-conference accolades.

Top scorers to return. The attack will have its key pieces intact next season. Willis and Jeff Hallenbeck (So., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) each scored eight goals, tying for second in the GNAC. Hallenbeck scored six times in his last seven games, including both postseason matches. James Coggan (So., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian), Daniel Carpenter (Fr., Santa Cruz, Ca./Harbor) and Colin Rigby (Jr., Mercer Island, Wa.)–who combined for 13 goals and 10 assists while largely coming off the bench–are also back.

The X factor. The Falcons figure to field an experienced team next autumn. Eleven of the returnees started at least six games. Michael Morris (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Blanchet) will continue to play a key midfield role, along with Steve Spencer (Jr., Scottsdale, Az./Chaparral-Paradise Valley CC). David Reuhl (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Bellevue CC), Drew Macha (So., Eugene, Or./Marist), Jono Henness (Fr., Casa Grande, Az./Casa Grande Union), Kosco and Kemper all played substantial roles on defense, with Willis, Hallenbeck, Rigby, Coggan and Carpenter proven up front. The biggest asset in need of replenishment will be depth. Kye Taylor (Sr., Powell River, BC/Cameron), Greg Truax (Sr., Corvallis, Or./Corvallis), Jeremy Bonner (Sr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake), Nick Letts (Sr., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian) and Sean Sandin (Sr., Renton, Wa./Kentridge) started a total of 41 games.

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.

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