ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  If history stays true for the Sonoma State men's soccer team, Friday afternoon's 4-1 win over Seattle Pacific could be the sign of good things to come.  You see, in 17 previous games against the Falcons, the Seawolves had only beaten them once.... in 2002, when Sonoma State went on to win the national championship.  The title is a long, long ways away, but so far, so good for the fourth-ranked Seawolves as they improve to 4-0-0 on the season.  The Falcons drop to 0-2-1.

While the Seattle Pacific uniform looked the same, one thing was definitely missing, long time head coach Cliff McCrath.  McCrath "retired" amidst a fair amount of controversy in the off-season.  A very close friend of McCrath's, SSU head coach Marcus Ziemer admitted after the game that the win had a little extra meaning.  "I feel like, in a way, we won this one for Cliff.  I know he'd appreciate that one."

McCrath and Ziemer had become so close over the years that the guest speaker at Sonoma State's national championship celebration banquet in 2002 was none other than the former SPU coach, McCrath himself.   "Cliff had this mystique about him.  Our guys felt much more relaxed going into this one without Cliff on the sidelines.  No disrespect to SPU coach Mark Collings, but Cliff was a legend," said Ziemer.

The Seawolves were quick to take the lead on Friday as Nathan Medina banged home a shot after gathering the rebound of an Andrew Bailey shot.  His strike gave the Seawolves a 1-0 lead just over eight minutes in.  Adding a little injury to insult, SPU goalkeeper Ben Lovelace was injured and left the game, not to return.

Down a goal early, the Falcons would be quick to knot things up as Drew Williams poked one in on a scramble in front of the net in the 14th.

That would be just about all the offense SPU would muster, however, as the Seawolves' defense tightened up and allowed just three shot total in the game, two in the first half and one in the second.

Ross Middlemiss scored what would turn out to be the game-winning goal in the 28th minute when he scored off an Eric Lafon assist.  It was the sixth goal of the season already for Middlemiss, tying the total he had as a junior in 2007.

The Seawolves would add two quick goals in the second half to put the game out of reach.  Lafon got a goal of his own in the 51st off a double assist from Scott Preckwinkle and Middlemiss.  In the 56th, Medina netted his second score off a beautiful, bending pass from defender Stuart Gallant.

Brook Johnson played the first 82-plus minutes before giving way to Taylor Jones.  The Seawolves needed to make just one save in the game. 

Sonoma State has another big matchup on Sunday when they take on Western Washington.  Gametime is set for 3:00 pm and it will be preceded by the WWU/SSU women's game.

Box Score