Tuesday, October 30, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - A perfect 8-0 record in October has earned Seattle Pacific University women’s soccer coach Chuck Sekyra the GNAC Coach of the Month award.

The Falcons got off to an uncharacteristic 3-2 start this fall, but since then have posted an 11-0-2 record, including eight consecutive wins in October.  In that stretch, SPU, which is ranked 22nd in the latest NSCAA national poll, has outscored its opponents 21-3.

“We are a young team that was playing a new system and we just had not found ourselves yet,” Sekyra, who has a 181-21-16 career record in 10 seasons at SPU, said about the slow start.

“We then won a couple games in overtime and had some really great come from behind victories that helped our players believe ... As much as anything our players have been committed to getting better each and every day.”

In October forward Megan Lindsay, who was named to the GNAC first team all-conference team for the third year in a row Tuesday, led the Falcons offensively producing eight goals and also adding two assists.  She currently leads the GNAC in scoring with 26 points (11 goals, 4 assists) and ranks fifth all-time in conference history with 101 career points.

The Falcons also got three goals in the month from Heather Young and two each from Ali Martin, Kaylie Winston and Laura Moore.  Martin also had five assists in the month.  Among the key players on defense has been freshman Shayla Page who joined Lindsay on the first team all-conference team.

The Falcons will take a nine-game win streak into this week’s inaugural GNAC championship tournament at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

SPU, which will be seeking its eighth GNAC title in 10 seasons under Sekyra, can also clinch its 10th consecutive NCAA regional appearance by winning the tournament.

Sekyra likes the chances of his team, which is seeded second and will play third-seed Montana State Billings in Thursday’s second game at 8 p.m.  The opening game matches top-seed Western Washington and fourth-seed Western Oregon at 5 p.m.

“I am very fortunate that I not only have a team that is very coachable but one of great character,” Sekyra said.  “This team reminds me of our dominating teams in 2007 and 2008 and I am excited about the future.”