SEATTLE (Aug. 15) ­ Seattle Pacific University will take a No. 9 national ranking into the opening game of the 2006 men's soccer season.

The Falcons, who bring back nine starters from the squad which went 15-3-3, host Chico State in the first regular season game Aug. 26 at Interbay Stadium. This is their first preseason national ranking in five seasons and the highest since starting at No. 5 in 1999.

SPU will play three other teams which are among the NSCAA/adidas national coaches preseason poll for NCAA Division II. It hosts No. 5 Cal State Dominguez Hills Aug. 29 and visits No. 17 Sonoma State Sept. 4 and No. 19 Incarnate Word Oct. 24.

Defending national champion Fort Lewis (Co.) is No. 1 in the preseason rankings, followed by Franklin Pierce (NH), Lynn (Fl.) and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Seattle Pacific advanced to the second round of the playoffs and finished ranked No. 7 last season.

NSCAA National Preseason Rankings
1.        Fort Lewis (Co.)               22-0-1
2.        Franklin Pierce (NH)           16-6-5
3.        Lynn (Fl.)                     16-3-0
4.        Southern Illinois Edwardsville 16-3-3
5.        Cal State Dominguez Hills      16-5-3
6.        Carson-Newman (Tn.)            18-2-2
7.        Dowling (NY)                   13-1-5
8.        Clayton State (Ga.)            13-4-4
9.        Seattle Pacific                15-3-3
10.       Saint Leo (Fl.)                15-2-0
11.       Dominican (NY)                 18-2-0
12.       Colo. School of Mines          13-7-4
13.       Rockhurst (Mo.)                15-5-1
14.       Lander (SC)                    11-5-4
15.       Catawba (NC)                   15-5-2
16.       New York Tech                  13-4-4
17.       Sonoma State                   12-9-2
18.       Montevallo (Al.)               16-5-2
19.       Incarnate Word (Tx.)           14-4-3
20.       Wisconsin-Parkside             13-4-1
21.       LeMoyne (NY)                   14-6-2
22.       UNC Pembroke                   12-3-5
22. tie   Tusculum (Tn.)                 11-7-1
24.       Southern Connecticut           10-4-4
25.       Rollins (Fl.)                 10-5-0