Wednesday, November 5, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene did something last Thursday that no other team has been able to do this year -- beat Seattle Pacific.

Senior Freddy Razo scored the game-winning goal in the first half to upset the second-ranked Falcons and to further expand NNU’s resume to make the NCAA tournament.

The Falcons responded rather well to their first loss, however, winning 1-0 against Montana State Billings on Saturday to clinch the GNAC title.

After finishing in the top four in the conference the last eight years, SPU finally earned its first regular season title since 2006 when it shared the title with Seattle University.

These two teams both ranked in the top five in the NCAA West Region rankings. Being ranked second in the West Region and only suffering its first loss last week, Seattle Pacific will most likely be headed for its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament.

With the recent win over the Falcons and a No. 5 ranking in the West Region, Northwest Nazarene is also likely to make the field.

Simon Fraser scored six more goals in wins over Mary and South Dakota Mines and currently stayed put in the rankings at sixth. The top six teams in the NCAA West Region rankings make the tournament.

Western Washington scored more goals last weekend than the Vikings have their previous six games as they routed South Dakota Mines 4-0 and Mary 6-1. WWU has won seven of its past nine matches after starting the season 2-5-1, only losing to Northwest Nazarene and then-No. 5 Seattle Pacific.

The Vikings also came in 10th in the NSCAA West Regional rankings, but that has little effect on their status for the NCAA tournament.

There is one more match for every team in the conference before the selections are made for the NCAA tournament on Monday.

Other Notes:

• The Falcons loss was only their second conference loss in the last two years.

• The NCAA men’s soccer tournament bracket will be released Monday, Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. Pacific via webcast on NCAA.com.
   
• The first round of the NCAA tournament starts Nov. 13-14.

• Simon Fraser beat South Dakota Mines 3-0 on Saturday where freshman Callum Powell scored this goal from 25 yards out, his second of the season.
   
• Western Washington's Chad Radulovich was named the GNAC offensive Player of the Week and Montana State Billings' Matt Brink was selected as the defensive Player of the Week.