Complete 2006 Review PDF Version

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Incredible future awaits. Although winning the region and returning to the NCAA tournament final four was ultimately not to be, the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team maintained its position as a national power and possesses incredible potential for 2007. In the program's sixth year of existence, the Falcons (17-5-0 ) finished 14th in the nation, qualified for the Far West Region title game for the third consecutive year and, with eight starters and several key players expected to return, there is solid reason for optimism.

Something to build on. Since the program kicked-off in 2001, SPU has made a meteoric rise to national prominence. Although they were denied a fifth straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference by an overtime goal in the final regular season game, the Falcons quickly made amends. Less than a week later, they eliminated arch-rival Seattle University from the NCAA tournament on a single goal in sudden-death overtime. UC San Diego won the Far West crown, 3-0 over Seattle Pacific, and the Tritons, in turn, were beaten by eventual national champion Metro State in the quarterfinal round. SPU is the only team to oust Metro from the playoffs since 2003, and over the last three years has averaged 18.7 wins with a win percentage of .855.

All-region women. While 31 of 32 playoff teams end the season with a loss, individuals can leave on a high note, and five SPU players received all-Far West Region accolades. Forward Sarah Martinez (Jr., Bothell, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) and central defender Carolyn Nason (Sr., Lafayette, Co./Broomfield-Metro State) were consensus first team selections, making both the NSCAA and Daktronics teams. Midfielder Kara Hamby (Jr., Spokane, Wa./Mead) was a first team choice by the coaches and second team Daktronics. Forward Alex Kirk (Fr., Edmonds, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway) and defender Claire Grubbs (So., Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) were named to the NSCAA second team. Martinez led Seattle Pacific in points (24) and assists (8) in '06 despite missing three games with a knee injury. She was second team All-American and the the GNAC player of the year in 2005. Both Martinez and Nason were repeat first team picks while Hamby was second team NSCAA a year ago. Kirk was second on the team in points with 20 and tied Martinez for first in goals (8). She was GNAC co-freshman of the year.

Academically speaking. Some players shine off the field as well, evidenced by the nine players who had already made academic all-conference. Making the grade at the next level were Grubbs and Mollie Taylor (Sr., Westlake Village, Ca./Oaks Christian), who were voted ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII first and second team, respectively, by CoSIDA. Grubbs is an education major with a 3.97 grade point average. Taylor is a double major in biology and theology with a 3.84 GPA.

Spinal tap. If the old adage that a soccer team’s strength begins with its spine is indeed true, Seattle Pacific ought to be able to flex some muscle early next fall. Coach Chuck Sekyra will have middle of his lineup return virtually intact. Grubbs anchors the central defense, with Hamby and Shannon Oakes (So., Boise, Id./Boise) back in central midfield roles. Martinez and Kirk are up front. Beyond that, Sekyra has proven outside backs in Jessica Gerstmann (Jr., Puyallup, Wa./Cascade Christian) and Katie Taylor (So., Vancouver, Wa./Columbia River); and Kayla Stiegemeier (Fr., Rathdrum, Id./Lakeland) and Meredith Teague (So, Redmond, Wa./Bellevue Christian) attack on the flanks. Gerstmann and Teague started all 22 games. Stiegemeier was the team’s No. 3 scorer (7 goals, 17 points) while Oakes led everyone in shots (64). In addition, there are several returnees who were key contributors and capable of getting into the first 11. Each of Janae Godoy’s (Fr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley) three goals were game-winners, including the short-range shot to beat Seattle U. in the playoffs. Coming off the bench, Tricia Loomis (Jr., Des Moines, Wa./Mount Rainier) has nine goals since switching to forward as a sophomore. Jeanne Webster (Jr., Bothell, Wa.) was a starting centerback before a season-ending knee injury.

Take a bow. Sekyra loses three starters to graduation. Keeper Katie Ruggles (Sr., Eugene, Or./South Eugene) started each match between the sticks, and Nason has been a fixture in central defense for three years, starting 68 of 69 games. Despite injuries, Mollie Taylor started 49 games over four years at outside back.

Inside the numbers. Given the relatively brief existence of the program, it's no surprise that some records were broken. Perhaps most noteworthy were a couple of lengthy streaks. Seattle Pacific's GNAC unbeaten skein made it to 47 games (43-0-4) before Seattle U. snapped it at Interbay Sept. 30. That also ended SPU's 20-game home unbeaten string (18-0-2). The regular season unbeaten run ended at 60 (55-0-5) with a 2-0 defeat to Cal State L.A. Sept. 1. Individually, Martinez surpassed Shannon Lovejoy (2001-05) in career game-winning goals (14) and she remains the leader in goals per game (0.52). Martinez goes into her final season at No. 2 in career goals (32) and No. 3 in points (79). Ruggles overtook Jennifer Hull for the career mark in goals-against average (0.74) and she is No. 2 in shutouts (9). All team records for goal timing were rewritten, including the earliest (1:09 by Kirk) and latest (both by Godoy, 89:14 in regulation and 107:39 in overtime).

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 $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.