• 2014 GNAC Men's Soccer Preview • VIDEO: Coach Mark Collings • 2014 SPU Men's Soccer SchedulePORTLAND, Ore. -- For the sixth straight season, Seattle Pacific was projected second in the preseason Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer poll that was released Tuesday.
SPU was listed behind only two-time NCAA Division II semifinalist Simon Fraser in the league rankings. The Falcons lived up to their preseason projection last year, posting a 10-1-3 record as runners-up to Simon Fraser. They dealt the Clan one of its two league defeats, a 2-1 decision in Seattle.
"It's probably fair considering where we finished last year," SPU coach
Mark Collings said of the second-place projection. "I don't think coaches try to ruffle too many feathers, so to speak, with an outlandish pick. So it seems like the poll is somewhat how the finish was last year.
"Obviously, we'd like to be No. 1 at the end. But our goal right now is to just get better and to hopefully give ourselves a chance to win the championship in the end."
The conference coaches named four-time defending champion Simon Fraser as this year's frontrunner. The Clan claimed the conference title in 2013 with an 11-2-1 record.
Simon Fraser returns eight starters from a team that was 18-3-2 last season and claimed the West Region championship.
The Clan received seven of eight first-place votes and 60 points in the preseason poll. SPU compiled 53 points, including the lone remaining first-place tally, to edge Western Washington for second. The Vikings collected 50 points to place third in the poll, followed by Northwest Nazarene (42), Montana State Billings (32), Saint Martin's (24), U-Mary (19) and South Dakota School of Mines (8).
Simon Fraser was picked No. 3 in the national preseason rankings. The Clan visits Seattle for an Oct. 4 showdown and the Northwest rivals meet again on Oct. 16 in Burnaby, B.C.
"They are the favorite because they return a lot," Collings said of Simon Fraser. "They have to be the favorite at the beginning not only in our conference, but they have to be one of the favorites in our region as well. It will be a big task for us when we play them on those two days."
Last year, the Falcons compiled a 12-4-3 record and participated in the postseason for the third straight season. They forged a 14-game undefeated streak, the longest such stretch in school history.
Eight starters are back for SPU, including first-team All-GNAC goalkeeper
Cody Lang. The sophomore shot-stopper registered eight shutouts and an impressive 0.76 goals against average in 2013.
Returning players accounted for 25 of the team's 29 goals last season, including four apiece from the trio of
Stephen MacDonald,
Bryson Pavel and
Sean Russell. Sophomore
Jordan Kollars was SPU's top playmaker with five assists in 2013.
The Falcons begin the 2014 campaign with a pair of games in Chico, California. They meet Humboldt State on Sept. 4 before a Sept. 6 rematch with the Chico State squad that eliminated them from the 2013 playoffs.
SPU's first men's soccer home game is slated for Sept. 13 against Notre Dame de Namur. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Interbay Stadium, which had a new AstroTurf playing surface installed in July.
Tickets for SPU soccer home games can be purchased on game day at Interbay Stadium (3027 17th Ave. W., Seattle 98119). Ticket windows open one hour prior to kickoff.
All seats are general admission, priced at $6 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. SPU students and staff are admitted free with i.d. Discounted group rates can be arranged by contacting the SPU Athletics Ticket Office in advance at: 206-281-2085.
2014 GNAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll1, Simon Fraser (7), 60
2, Seattle Pacific (1), 53
3, Western Washington, 50
4, Northwest Nazarene 42
5, Montana State Billings, 32
6, Saint Martin's, 24
7, University of Mary, 19
8, South Dakota School of Mines, 8
