No. 2 and rising. Five years after taking the field for the first time, Seattle Pacific University has got a glorious future in women’s soccer. And the future is now. The Falcons (20-1-4) nearly won the 2005 NCAA Division II championship, instead finishing No. 2 in the nation on an overtime goal. With six starters eligible to return next fall, the best of SPU is yet to come, and several recruits with similar beliefs will sign national letters of intent beginning Feb. 1.

Best ever. For the second year in a row, Seattle Pacific was beaten only once. In the national championship game, Nebraska-Omaha’s goal barely three minutes into sudden-death overtime earned the Mavericks (20-2-0) their first crown, 2-1. Still, the Falcons had taken several more strides toward becoming a perennial national power. Their regular season and Great Northwest Athletic Conference unbeaten streaks reached 57 (52-0-5) and 44 (40-0-4) games, respectively. They disposed of defending national champion Metro State in a quarterfinal playoff and came from behind to beat Carson-Newman in the semifinal, 3-2. That was a record-breaking 20th win. SPU finished undefeated (12-0-2) at home and winner of the GNAC for the fourth year in a row.

Oh, the ‘Joy.’ Four regular starters are among the seven graduating seniors, and as a result Coach Chuck Sekyra will have some large holes to fill. Foremost among them is center midfield where Shannon Lovejoy (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep) became the program’s most decorated player. Lovejoy capped off a stellar career by being voted the National Player of the Year and a finalist for both the Div. II Honda Award and Seattle Sports Star of the Year. She made the All-America team for the third year in a row and leaves as the GNAC career scoring leader (111 points). Sekyra’s cupboard is hardly bare, however. His attack will revolve around another All-American, forward Sarah Martinez (So., Bothell, Wa./Cedar Park Christian). The GNAC player of the year and second team All-American, Martinez led the Falcons with 16 goals and 38 points. Sekyra was awarded Far West Region Coach of the Year.

Wait, there’s more. It’s often said that a soccer team’s strength begins with its spine, and Sekyra has a good-looking returning lineup through the middle. Anchoring his backline is all-region defender Carolyn Nason (Jr., Lafayette, Co.). Another all-region pick, Kara Hamby (So., Spokane, Wa./Mead) holds down the midfield, with Martinez running up front. Wide on defense are a couple of proven yet young backs, Meredith Teague (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Bellevue Christian) and Katie Taylor (Fr., Vancouver, Wa./Columbia River). Teague made the Final Four all-tournament team and scored two goals and an assist in the final four postseason games. Both she and Taylor and started 11 times. Alongside Nason, could be either Claire Grubbs (Fr., Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) or Jeanne Webster (So., Bothell, Wa.). In midfield, Shannon Oakes (Fr., Boise, Id.) is sure to figure into Sekyra’s plans. Oakes started 18 games and scored three goals.

What a way to go. When they arrived, the Falcons had not so much as made the playoffs. When they left, the senior class of the ‘05 season had just about done it all. Besides Lovejoy, the program also loses starters Michelle Everson (Sr., Tacoma, Wa./Stadium), Megan Lienhard (Sr., Everett, Wa./Cascade) and Heidi Jacobson (Sr., Kirkland, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) to graduation. Everson, Lienhard and Lovejoy were four-year starters. Everson set a season record for assists (13) and was an All-American last season. Jacobson (11 goals) and Lienhard (10) were the team’s Nos. 2 and 3 scorers this year, and Jacobson made the all-region team twice. Defender Jean Kolb (Sr., Eugene, Or./South Eugene) was another solid contributor, starting 14 games at outside back. Allison Teague (Sr., Redmond, Wa./Bellevue Christian-Santa Clara) played in each game, started five and delivered three game-winning goals.

Inside the numbers. Given the relatively brief existence of the program, it’s no surprise that several team records were rewritten, including team marks for wins, goals (70) and consecutive games unbeaten (23). Individually, Lovejoy pushed her career goals record to 42 while matching the 27 assists of Michelle Sanders. Martinez came within one goal Lovejoy’s season record and tied her standard for season points (38). Nationally, SPU was seventh in goals-against average (0.53) with goalkeeper Jennifer Burns (Fr., Boise, Id./Capital) ninth individually at 0.55.

Deep thoughts. Overall, 19 players managed to started at least twice, which is an indicator of the depth Sekyra can draw from in ‘06. Only Martinez and Hamby started all 25 matches. Among the key reserves seeking starting roles will be forward Tricia Loomis (So., Des Moines, Wa./Mount Rainier) and winger Jessica Gerstmann (Jr., Puyallup, Wa./Cascade Christian/Wash. St.). Loomis scored four times while Gerstmann was a workhorse in the midfield. Mollie Taylor (Jr., Westlake Village, Ca./Oaks Christian), who started 13 times on defense before suffering a season-ending knee injury, will vie to return to the backline. Katie Ruggles (Jr., Eugene, Or./South Eugene), after playing 46 flawless minutes in the semifinal victory, will bid to start in goal.

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.