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Five wins away. Seattle Pacific University is one of 32 men’s soccer teams now five wins away from lifting the NCAA Division II championship trophy, having earned a record 30th trip to the postseason. The Falcons (12-6-0), ranked No. 17, hope for a return to midseason form when they open play at the Far West Regional against Cal State L.A. (12-8-1) Thursday (Nov. 2) in Carson, Calif. If they advance, the winner of host and No. 8 Cal State Dominguez Hills (12-8-1) and Seattle University (11-7-0) awaits Saturday night (Nov. 4).

Let’s get it started. The team that rolled into October like a wrecking ball still exists, although it’s been swinging and missing for much of the last couple weeks. Two months ago, Coach Cliff McCrath thought he had all the necessary ingredients for a run at the national title, and now is the time to bring it to a boil. SPU has lost four of six games since a car crash canceled one game and sent two starters to the sidelines. No excuses, but the squad hasn’t been the same since. If they can resurrect the form exhibited during a seven-game win streak, they truly could contend for their sixth NCAA crown and first since 1993.

Road to Pensacola. If McCrath & Co. can just get to the final four in Pensacola, Florida, maybe the rest will be history. Four of Seattle Pacific’s national titles have been won in the Sunshine State. The south side of Los Angeles–specifically Carson–has been another matter. The last three postseason games have been played there, and other than a neutral field win over Sonoma State a year ago, it’s marked the end of the road with losses to Dominguez Hills in 2000 and ‘05. The Toros have prevailed in the last five meetings, including a 2-0 win at Interbay Stadium Aug. 29 which may have determined the top seed for the regional.

Building block. Soccer is a simple game, and the key statistics tend to be just as simple. Score first and your odds of winning rise, evidenced by the Falcons going 11-1 this season when doing so. When the defense has stood firm, even for just a half, good things have happened, such as the 10-1 record when keeping teams scoreless for the first 45 minutes. And when either James Coggan (Jr., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian) or Andy Willis (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor) score a goal, the result is nine wins, no losses.

All that. Certainly the opposition thinks the the Falcons have the right stuff. Coaches in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference voted seven players to the all-league team. Taking individual honors were McCrath as coach of the year, central midfielder Justin Abel (Jr., Snohomish, Wa./Snohomish) newcomer of the year and defender Josh Burnside (Fr., Black Diamond, Wa./Kennedy) co-freshman of the year. There were two repeat selections, goalkeeper Kellen Rosten (Jr., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty) and sweeper Matt Kemper (Jr., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer). Joining them were forwards Colin Rigby (Sr., Mercer Island, Wa.) and Coggan and mifielders Abel, Michael Morris (Sr., Bothell, Wa./Blanchet) and Jeff Hallenbeck (Jr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor).

Experience counts. Aside from the coaching staff, no one knows what it’s like to win a national championship. However, 16 players got a taste of postseason experience a year ago, when SPU advanced to the second round of the tournament. Following a 2-0 win over Sonoma, they went up 1-0 on Dominguez Hills before succumbing 2-1 in overtime.

Throw-ins. LiveStats will be available online for all regional games this week, with a link at The Falcons Online...The Far West champion will face the Midwest winner Nov. 11 or 12 at a site to be determined. Defending national champion and No. 2-ranked Fort Lewis (Co.) is the top seed in the Midwest...Ironically, the last time an SPU team lost six times and made the playoffs, it advanced to the semifinal stage. The Falcons have the fewest losses of the four Far West teams...The shared GNAC title is the first for Seattle Pacific since 2000...California has served as a home-away-from-home for the Falcons each September, and they have fared rather well, going 4-1 in the state this season and 12-3-2 over three-plus years...The loss at Seattle U. marked the first consecutive defeats since 2003...The defense has allowed three goals four times–the most since 2002. Last season no opponent scored more than twice and 13 were held scoreless...SPU has outscored opponents 19-7 in the first half...Kemper has now started 58 consecutive games. The others to start all 18 games this season are David Reuhl (Sr., Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Bellevue CC), Hallenbeck, Rosten and Abel...Morris scored his first goal since Sept. 25 and fifth of the year at Seattle U., and Coggan earned his team-leading sixth assist. He’s tied for second in the conference. Rigby is tied for third in goals with seven. Rosten is No. 1 in shutouts (5) and GAA (1.16).

Coaching Staff. Cliff McCrath is the Division II leader in career coaching victories. 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 28 NCAA playoff appearances, including berths in 18 of the last 22 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 $5 for general admission, with students and senior citizens $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.