Pressure from outset. As it turns out, the biggest games in the first half of the Seattle Pacific University men’s soccer season could come in the campaign’s first 10 days. Ranked No. 9 in the NCAA Division II preseason poll, the Falcons face two other top-20 teams by Labor Day. SPU opens with a pair of home games, Saturday night (Aug. 26) against Chico State and No. 5 Cal State Dominguez Hills on Aug. 29. A five-game road trip begins Sept. 2 versus Cal State L.A.

Loaded (and then some). After 47 years of coaching, it takes something special to get Cliff McCrath to gush platitudes, and he’s pretty pleased with the cast which assembled for preseason drills two weeks ago. “I think we can win it,” said McCrath of a national championship, adding “if the right things happen.” He’s got nine returning starters from a squad which went 15-3-3 and reached the second round of the playoffs. Plus, there is a crop of recruits pushing not just for playing time but prominent roles. SPU is coming off its highest final national ranking in seven years and most victories since winning a fifth NCAA title in 1993.

The business end. The first few games will figure heavily in how the Falcons fare this fall. To earn home-field advantage in the NCAA tournament, they will likely need wins over the top teams in the CCAA. Last season Seattle Pacific played its two postseason contests 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, 2-0 in the first round. SPU has not hosted an NCAA tournament game since 1999. Eleven of 19 regular season games are on the road, so defending the home turf is imperative. Last season the Falcons were 7-0-1 at Interbay, allowing only one goal. Overall, they own a 13-game home unbeaten streak over two seasons.

The untouchables. While several starting spots are up for grabs, McCrath says there are a few “untouchables” who form the spine which he builds around. It begins in goal, where Kellen Rosten (Jr., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty) was the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year. Rosten posted 13 shutouts, allowed just 13 goals and made more saves than any keeper in 24 years. Sweeper Matt Kemper (Jr., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) marshals the back four and, up front, Andy Willis (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) is coming off an 8-goal season. Rosten, Kemper and Willis each made the all-region team. Jeff Hallenbeck (Jr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor), who runs from behind Willis, also scored eight goals, getting six in his last seven games, including both postseason matches.

Vets aplenty. Among the leading candidates to join Kemper on the defensive line are David Reuhl (Sr., Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Bellevue CC), Drew Macha (Jr., Eugene, Or./Marist), Colin Kosco (So., Edmonds, Wa./Meadowdale) and Jono Hennsess (So., Casa Grande, Az./Casa Grande Union), a foursome which started a combined 45 times last season. In midfield, where McCrath must replace four-year starter and All-American Ross Vaillancourt, there are two holdovers–Michael Morris (Sr., Bothell, Wa./Blanchet) and Steve Spencer (Sr., Scottsdale, Az./Chaparral-Paradise Valley CC)–and lots of competition. Justin Abel (Jr., Snohomish, Wa./Snohomish-St. John’s), a transfer from St. John’s, has the inside track to Vaillancourt’s holding role and Daniel Carpenter (So., Santa Cruz, Ca./Harbor), once he recovers from knee surgery, could press for a key part. Up front, supersub James Coggan (Jr., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian) and Colin Rigby (Sr., Mercer Island, Wa.) could push or play alongside Willis.

New kids in town. McCrath has said that his greatest challenge is to weave his talented freshmen into already quality fabric. Injuries have slowed a few newcomers but Brandon Crutchfield (Fr., Snohomish, Wa./Snohomish), Josh Burnside (Fr., Black Diamond, Wa./Kennedy) and Alec Nelson (Fr., Lynnwood, Wa./Meadowdale) have already shown themselves to be worthy of starting. Crutchfield was the dynamic playmaker for 4A state champion Snohomish, and along with Burnside poses problems for opposing defenses on the flanks.

Throw-ins. SPU scrimmaged Canada’s Trinity Western and Washington to prepare for the season...As a result of the inaugural NCAA Fall Sports Festival, the soccer regular season has been compacted, ending one week earlier. The festival will include championships for both men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country...In addition to Carpenter, injuries to Crutchfield, Rigby and Nelson make them questionable for Saturday... The Falcons scored first 17 times last season and were unbeaten (26-0-2) in their last 28 games when scoring first until the overtime playoff loss at Dominguez Hills...Eighteen of the 41 goals were scored by nonstarters, with Coggan scoring five and Carpenter four...McCrath’s 578 career victories lead Div. II and rank No. 2 in all of collegiate soccer...Only three GNAC teams will field teams this season. Saint Martin’s will join the GNAC soccer alignment in ‘07 after one season with a club program. Montana State Billings will come aboard in all sports...Marcus Hahnemann made his English Premier League debut last Saturday, starting in goal in the Royals’ 3-2 win over Middlesbrough. Hahnemann, a three-time All-American, played at SPU from 1990-93. He was a member of the U.S. World Cup team this summer and helped Reading win a division title last spring.

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.