The Falcon   |   Volume 81, Issue 26

Published 6/02/10   |   Log In

Sports In Review

Sophomore Jake Anderson and Adam Wardell celebrate after scoring against Central Washington University in their way ti win the GNAC title.
Photo credit: Falcon Archives.

By DAVID TRISTANO, Sports Editor

Published: June 2, 2010

Women win first round of NCAA Tournament; fall in Elite Eight

The Falcons celebrate after defeating Alaska Anchorage in the second round of the Regional Tournament on March 13. Photo credit: Falcon Archives.

After two consecutive years of losing in the regional finals, Seattle Pacific finally crossed that hurdle on March 15, but lost in the Elite Eight against Fort Lewis on March 23.

This was the first Elite Eight appearance for the Falcons (27-4 overall) under head coach Julie van Beek. Fort Lewis (34-3 overall) won 68-59 on March 23 in St. Joseph, Mo.

The weekend before final exams, the Falcons hosted the NCAA Division II West Regional women's tournament. On March 12, they beat Hawaii Pacific University (18-7 overall) and won against rival University of Alaska Anchorage (24-5 overall) the following day. On March 15, the Falcons beat Chico State 76-68 (23-10 overall) in the regional finals, securing a trip to the Elite Eight.

"It shows you how far our team came," van Beek said. "At the beginning of the year, if Daesha (Henderson) and Megan (Hoisington) were not in the game, we struggled. It's fun to see so many different people contributing."

Junior forward Melissa Reich was named the Most Valuable Player of the regional tournament. In the three games over the weekend, she averaged 12.3 points and nine rebounds while shooting 65 percent from the field (15 of 23).

Women rout NNU, win GNAC title

Junior forward Amanda Johnson races past a Montana State Billings defender. Photo credit: Falcon Archives.

One of the goals for the Falcons this season was to win the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title. Goal accomplished.

Seattle Pacific (16-3-1 overall, 9-2-1 in GNAC) needed to beat the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (9-9-1 overall, 5-6 in GNAC) to keep its playoff hopes alive.

On Nov. 5, the Falcons began the contest with two goals in the second half and one goal in overtime, including a point from freshman defender Andrea Chan, who scored her first collegiate goal in the 77th minute. Senior Jocelyn Charette scored the game winning goal in overtime and was also named GNAC Athlete of the Week.

"Saturday's game meant a lot in a few ways," said senior midfielder Janae Godoy. "It was a great feeling to have the girls playing for us seniors, it was nice winning the GNAC, but it was just as nice to know that we ended our season on a good win."

Royal Brougham welcomes Storm

On Dec. 7, Seattle Pacific and the Seattle Storm agreed on a five-year partnership for the Seattle Storm to use the lower gym in Royal Brougham Pavilion as their new practice facility beginning in April.

The facility agreement includes a new professional length court that will be installed in the lower level of the pavilion, as well as use of the upper level basketball courts when not in use by SPU for practices or classes.

"It's a great way for SPU to have more community outreach," said Amy Foster, assistant director of conference services at SPU. "Anytime we can get in the community to include them in the campus is a great tool. The Storm is an excellent basketball team. It's a win win."

Falcons finish season strong; nationals next

Junior Betsy Snook an uneven bar gymnast is congratulated by sophomore Kaysha Heck, an uneven bar and balance beam gymnast. Photo credit: Falcon Archives.

After missing the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships last season, the Falcons returned and finished seventh overall, including two gymnasts who earned silver medals.

SPU competed in the first competition session on April 15. They placed third out of the first four teams to compete. Bridgeport earned a first place score of 192.575; Rutgers came in second with 189.400; and Air Force placed fourth with 185.925. The Falcons finished with 187.925.

"I think that, although we didn't perform at our best, the majority of us learned a lot from this experience," said sophomore Texie Gregory, an uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise gymnast. "We saw what our competition looked like and now we know how a winning team performs. If anything, we are more fueled to work harder."

For the second consecutive year, sophomore Kaysha Heck, an uneven bars and balance beam gymnast, medaled in the national uneven bars competition. Although she came into the meet with one of the lowest qualifying preliminary scores, Heck finished second with a score of 9.600.

Junior all-around gymnast Anissa Madrid also earned second place on the balance beam with a score of 9.750.

Veron fights through stress fracture

Sophomore Sherah Veron competes earlier this year in Royal Brougham. Veron earned a career high with one of her floor routines, setting the third best mark in SPU history. Photo credit: Falcon Archives.

Despite fighting a stress fracture all season, sophomore Sherah Veron, a vault and floor exercise gymnast, made the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Team in the regional championships.

On March 27, during the team's MPSF Conference Championship, Veron finished the floor exercise with her new career high score of 9.900.

Veron's score was important on two levels. Aside from being the Falcon's finale for the floor event and having the highest score by an SPU gymnast this year, she also won the conference championship for the floor exercise and was picked as an All-MSPF honoree.

Though Veron had to deal with the injury, she set goals for herself this season that she hoped would help her team reach their national aspirations.

"I really wanted to stay consistent in my routines and also help encourage my team to do the same," Veron said.

Essien Wins Conference Title

Twenty-one hundredths of a second made all the difference for senior sprinter Latasha Essien at the Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Championships held in Nampa, Idaho, on Feb. 20.

The last meet of the indoor season for track and field athletes was the first meet Essien competed in since March 2009. After pulling her hamstring during a spring practice, Essien had been out of commission all season.

The sprinter won the 60-meter dash for her fourth consecutive championship title. Essien bolted to the finish line in a record breaking time of 7.67 seconds.

"Everyone was shocked, but I was just as shocked as everyone else was," Essien said.

Coaches and athletes had faith that Essien's performance would be strong. Ever since her injury, the team has rallied behind Essien with support and encouragement, Essien said.

"I feel so blessed. It had to be God in my legs," she said. "I don't get it; there is no reason why I won. Everyone gives me credit, but I don't feel like I can take it. I am just thankful for a great team and great coaches."

Volleyball Makes the Playoffs

Sophomore Amber Johnson spikes the ball ti Central Washington University in Royal Brougham Pavilion. Photo credit: Falcon Archives.

Last season, the Falcons won eight games and missed the playoffs. This season, they won 17 games, propelling them into the NCAA Division II volleyball tournament.

"The difference between this year and last year was an attitude," said junior outside hitter Sarah Risser. "We had to go through last year's season in order to learn how to fight and become a better team. This year, we believed we were a force to be dealt with and we played like it."

Though they fell to No. 1 seed Cal. State Bernardino in the first round of the playoffs, the Falcons are already looking forward to next year.

"I am proud of what we accomplished, but I keep finding myself looking ahead and seeing how much better we're going to be," Risser said.

Now that a number of players have experience at regionals, head coach Chris Johnson hopes the team will learn from it in the future.

"I was very happy to make the playoffs again this year, and am glad that the girls who will be returning got a chance to see what it is like," he said. "I think that it will prove to be a valuable experience for them in the coming seasons."

Women's Basketball Team takes GNAC

The Falcons celebrate after defeating Alaska Anchorage in the second round of the Regional Tournament on March 13. Photo credit: Falcon Archives.

After sharing the conference title with Alaska Anchorage last season, the Falcons wanted to win the conference outright this season. They did just that.

On March 6, Seattle Pacific beat Alaska Anchorage in a topsy turvey game 67-60. Each team displayed scoring runs to take the lead. SPU finished the game on a 21-7 run.

"This was a great opportunity to play in front of a big crowd, a lot on the line," said head coach Julie van Beek.

Coach van Beek added that her team needed to keep believing it was their game to win.

"Anchorage has only lost two games at home over the last three years," van Beek said. "That was a great confidence builder. We won on the road against a very good team. (It) shows the resiliency of the team. It takes a whole team to win."

Winning the GNAC allowed the Falcons to host the first round of playoffs for the third year in a row.

Coach van Beek said it is nice to play at home and also have the students there for support.

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