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Holiday weekend at home. Seeking to establish a true home field advantage early in this men’s soccer season, Seattle Pacific University awaits the visit of some Californians over the holiday weekend. The unbeaten and 19th-ranked Falcons (1-0-1) face San Francisco State (2-0-0) Saturday night (Sept. 1) and perennial playoff contender Sonoma State (0-1-1) on Labor Day (Sept. 3) afternoon at Interbay Stadium. The next three games will be on the road, beginning Sept. 7 with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener at Saint Martin’s.

Home turf. The seasons in which Seattle Pacific proves to be a contender for the regional and national championship are also those when the Falcons are nearly unbeatable at home. Two years ago, when SPU was Far West runner-up, they were 7-0-1 at Interbay, outscoring visitors 18-1. Last fall was just OK (6-2-0). Back in the early Nineties, when the program claimed its last NCAA Division II title, Seattle Pacific won a record 22 in a row at home.

O brother. They have been nicknamed “Cogs” and in the opening win of the season they certainly were integral parts in the attacking machinery. Forward James Coggan (Sr., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian) and his younger brother, midfielder Jeff Coggan (So., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian), figured in two of the three goals in the 3-2 win at Chico State. Jeff crossed to Big Brother for a tap-in for the go-ahead strike, and James set-up Andy Wolverton (Fr., Portland, Or./Jesuit) for the third. It was the first time two SPU brothers had hooked-up for a goal since 1993, when David Swanson was assisted by his younger brother Jon. James now has 17 goals and 15 assists for his career.

Clean as can be. Another hallmark of a championship contender is a clean-sheet defense, and for the first time in nine games the Falcons held fast at Cal State Stanislaus. The Warriors, who had scored three goals in their opening game, were denied, in part, by the five saves of goalkeeper Kellen Rosten (Sr., Colorado Springs, Co./Doherty). It was Rosten’s 17th career shutout, leaving him two shy of cracking the all-time top four. His starting back four for the first two games consisted of stopper Drew Macha (Sr., Eugene, Or./Marist), sweeper Matt Kemper (Sr., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer) and outside backs Doug Whitney (Fr., Edmonds, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway) and Jordan Dettmer (So., Snohomish, Wa.).

Countdown to 600. Why, it seems only a few years ago (22 to be precise) that he won his 300th game in the Kingdome, and now Cliff McCrath has nearly doubled that total of career coaching wins. He has begun the final countdown to 600, taking his sum to 591 with the season-opening victory at Chico. McCrath leads Div. II in wins and is now 16 away from eclipsing retired Wheaton boss Joe Bean (606) for No. 1 in all of the collegiate game.

Senior lineup. McCrath entrusted six seniors with starting assignments in the first two games, with Rosten, James Coggan, Kemper and Macha being joined by Justin Abel (Sr., Snohomish, Wa.) Jeff Hallenbeck (Sr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) in midfield. Hallenbeck scored the first goal of the season, bending in a first-half free kick at Chico. It was the third year in a row that SPU beat the Wildcats in the opener. It’s also an encouraging beginning for Hallenbeck, who has tended to score the bulk of his 16 career goals during the second half of the season.

Room for youth. Although the starting 11 features seven upperclassmen–Colin Kosco (Jr., Edmonds, Wa./Meadowdale) is the holding midfielder–the young ones have contributed as well. A redshirt last season, Whitney won a job at left back and the other three are sophomores: Dettmer, Jeff Coggan and Alec Nelson (Fr., Lynnwood, Wa./Meadowdale). McCrath used freshmen Grant Burton (Fr., Lafayette, Co./Monarch) and Wolverton to relieve the frontrunners in each game.

Throw-ins. Seattle Pacific moved up three places in the first weekly national rankings. The Falcons are third in the Far West ratings by the NSCAA, behind Seattle U. (6th nationally) and Cal State L.A. (11th)...Cory Sinser (So., Bellevue, Wa./Eastside Catholic) earned his first career point with an assist on the Wolverton goal. It's been five years since a freshman last scored in his debut...Eleven of Coggan's goals have come at home and he now has four career strikes against Chico...SPU finished with a man advantage at Stanislaus following the ejections of an opponent in the 83rd minute. The game, played in 90-degree heat, was the first scoreless draw in in nearly two yearsand only the third in the last nine seasons...SPU has won six of its last seven home games.

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 30 NCAA playoff appearances, including berths in 19 of the last 23 years, and five national titles (1978, ‘83, ‘85, ‘86 and ‘93). His staff features three of his former players: Mark Collings, James Ward and Mark Metzger.

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.