Wednesday, September 5, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - A year ago Seattle Pacific earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II West Regional men’s soccer playoffs.

After two road wins last week in California, including a 3-1 win over previously 23rd ranked Chico State, the Falcons are back at No. 1 in the inaugural National Soccer Coaches Association of America  West Regional poll.

Right on their heels is Simon Fraser which is ranked second.  Montana State Billings is ranked ninth in the regional poll.

In the first national poll, Seattle Pacific  and Simon Fraser are also both ranked in the Top 10.  The Falcons are fifth, while SFU, which has a 21-game unbeaten streak, is seventh.

SFU finished No. 1 in last year’s final regular-season national poll, but was ineligible for the playoffs and tumbled from the top spot following the national tournament even though they did play participate in the post-season tournament.

SFU’s 21-game unbeaten streak (20 wins, 1 tie) is just three shy of the GNAC record set by Seattle University during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

All but one of those games (22 wins, 1 tie) came during Seattle’s 2004 national championship run.

The NSCAA poll is unofficial as later this fall the NCAA will conduct three official  polls that will determine which teams advance to the six-team West Regional playoffs.  No automatic bids are awarded to the regional.

YELLOWJACKETS 3-0 IN HAWAII:   With Tuesday’s 2-0 win against Hawaii Hilo, Montana State Billings is off to its best start since 2007.  Prior to beating UHH, the Yellowjackets opened their Hawaii road trip with wins over Chaminade (2-1) and Hawaii Pacific (3-2).  In 2007, MSUB opened its season with seven wins, then played to a draw before losing their first game of the season. . .Thomas Chameraud had three assists in last week’s two victories, then added a fourth – his 11th career assist – in Tuesday’s victory.

CARVER SCORES TWICE AS SPU GOES 2-0:   Blaine Carver scored a goal in each of Seattle Pacific’s two wins, getting the game-winner in Thursday’s 4-2 victory over Notre Dame de Namur.  It’s been a decade (2002) since the Falcons have opened the season with two victories.  SPU won twice despite being outshot 27-25 in the two contests, which included one against   Chico State, which came into the game ranked 23^rd.

BASSO’S BARAGE:  Carlo Basso’s five goals fell one shy of the GNAC single-game record of six set by Samir Vejo of Western Washington against Colorado Christian in 2008.    Four players previously have scored four goals in a single contest.  In his third season, Basso already ranks 14th in GNAC history with 63 career points, including 30 goals.  Jovan Blagojevic had two goals in the Clan’s victories, while Chris Bargholz earned three assists.

GNAC Players-of-the-Week Recap