Complete GNAC Preview
SPOKANE, Wash. - Seattle University has won four of the five Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer titles, including the last three, but Seattle Pacific appears best positioned to make an impact at the regional and national level this fall.
It will be a somewhat abbreviated schedule for the GNAC. With Humboldt State moving to the CCAA, only three teams - the Redhawks, Falcons and Western Washington - will compete for the conference title, each playing four conference games.
Seattle, which won the NCAA Division II national title two years ago, returns only eight letter winners and five starters off of last year's team that was denied a post-season berth despite finishing 13-6 and winning the conference title with a 5-1 record. Among the losses off that squad were Bobby McAlister and Alex Chursky, the top two scorers in GNAC history with 93 and 84 points, respectively. Also gone is coach Peter Fewing, who led the Redhawks to a 220-125-26 record in 18 seasons. The lone returning allstar for new coach Brad Agoos is midfielder John Fishbaugher, who earned honorable mention GNAC honors.
In sharp contrast, Seattle Pacific, which has won five national titles under coach Cliff McCrath but none since 1993, returns seven all-stars, nine starters and 18 letter winners off a team that posted a 15-3-3 record and lost to Cal State Dominguez Hills 2-1 in the West Region title game. The Falcons are ranked ninth in the pre-season National Soccer Coaches Association national poll. The top returnee for the Falcons, who finished second to SU in the conference race with a 3-1-1 record, is goalkeeper Kellen Rosten, who led the GNAC in goals against average (0.60) and was voted the GNAC Player-ofthe-Year.
Western Washington, which hopes to bounce back for a 3-16-1 record, doesn't have any players returning from last year's Top 10 scorers, but the Vikings do have four previous all-stars. Forward Zach Bauling and midfielder Robbie Curry were second team selections and Gus Zadra was an honorable mention pick last year, while defender Kenny Mueller earned second team honors in 2004.
The 2006 season begins Thursday, Aug. 24 with a pair of games. Seattle University hosts Chico State and Western Washington plays at Humboldt State. Seattle Pacific makes its debut on Saturday, Aug. 26 at home against Chico.
