UPCOMING MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30
(#14) Seattle Pacific at Montana State Billings
1:30 p.m. PDT, Yellowjackets Field; Billings, Mont.
       • Webcast:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSfH5CDgCJHjkOa0-znevg
       • LiveStats:  https://msubsports.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Simon Fraser at (#14) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Western Washington at (#14) Seattle Pacific
7:00 p.m. PDT, Interbay Stadium, Seattle, Wash.
 
       • Webcast for both home games:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SPUsports
       • LiveStats for both home games:  https://spufalcons.comsidearmstats/msoc/
       • Buy Tickets in Advance:  https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/spufalcons/6750
 
After a two-week break from competition, 14th-ranked Seattle Pacific is back in action for the second swing through the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer schedule. The first-place Falcons (10-2-0, 4-1-0 GNAC) are on the road this week before hosting their final two regular-season home games next week. They visit Montana State Billings on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (2:30 p.m. MST). SPU beat the Yellowjackets (3-7-1, 1-4-0) 4-3 on Oct. 2 in Seattle on a golden goal by Alden Massey. On Thursday, Nov. 4 the Falcons have a chance to avenge their lone league loss (1-0 on Oct. 16) when Simon Fraser (6-5-0, 3-2-0) invades Interbay Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. clash. The home slate concludes on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. versus Western Washington (5-7-0, 3-2-0). SPU won this season's first encounter, 2-0 on Oct. 14 in Bellingham. The GNAC season and NCAA Division II Tournament that were cancelled last year will be contested this fall.
 
Magnificent Mejia
Saturday's game in Billings features a battle between the GNAC's top-two scorers. SPU's Alex Mejia leads the league with 12 goals, three more than MSUB's Hilal Yilmaz (9). Mejia is tied for fifth nationally with 1.00 goals per game. The senior forward netted at least one goal in nine of 12 outings and has produced the first double-digit scoring season by a Falcon since current teammate Titus Grant tallied 13 goals in 2018. Mejia registered the first hat trick by a Falcon since 2018 with three goals versus Saint Martin's on Oct. 9. He has produced 22 career goals.

ALEX MEJIA GOAL (Oct. 14, 2021)

Throw-Ins
• Lars Helleren is tied for or leads all GNAC keepers in goals against average (0.97), saves (47) and shutouts (5).
 
• SPU tallied the first goal in 9 of 12 games this season with an 8-1-0 record in those outings.
 
• The Falcons lead the league with 30 goals and no other team has more than 20.
 
• Titus Grant and Alex Mejia are tied for the GNAC game-winning goals leadership with 3 apiece.
 
• The Falcons have reached the 10-win mark for the first time since the 2017 season (11-5-1).
 
• Junior midfielder Tyler Speer is the GNAC's top playmaker with 5 assists to his credit.
 
• On defense, SPU allows the fewest goals per game in the GNAC at 1.00 with Simon Fraser 2nd at 1.09.
 
• Alex Mejia leads the GNAC with 12 goals while Alden Massey ranks third with 6 scores.

Interbay Stadium Entry Policy
Fans are welcome to attend games in person at Interbay Stadium. In compliance with King County guidelines, spectators 12-years-of-age and older attending SPU athletic events will need to provide proof of full vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 test. Before purchasing or picking up tickets at venue Will Call windows, attendees will be required to show evidence of vaccination. Acceptable forms of proof include a CDC-issued Vaccination Record Card, a photo of the card, the Washington state myIRmobile.com app or a document from a health care provider. Those who cannot provide proof of vaccination may instead present documentation of a negative FDA-approved COVID-19 test administered by a professional and dated within 72 hours of the event. For additional details, please click on the SPU ATHLETICS ENTRY POLICY webpage. Mask wearing is mandatory at all times and spectators are encouraged to social distance when possible. Save the wait in line and obtain your SPU soccer tickets in advance by purchasing them online the SPU TICKETS webpage.
 
Super Start
SPU is in the midst of the program's best start in seven seasons, dating to the 2014 team whose only blemish through a comparable 12-game stretch was a tie. That squad went undefeated (14-0-1) through its first 15 games. This year's Falcons won their opening three GNAC games for the first time since that 2014 squad won its first 11.
 
 

Preseason Poll Projection
Seattle Pacific, led by first-year coach Kevin Sakuda, was projected for a third-place finish by the GNAC preseason poll. The Falcons forged a 3-2-1 record in the abbreviated, pandemic-altered 2020-21 campaign that was conducted during the spring. Ten starters return from last season, including seven of the eight goal scorers. 
 
Upcoming Opponents
Montana State Billings (3-7-1, 1-4-0 GNAC) -- The Yellowjackets lost their last three games. Halil Yilmaz leads all MSUB scorers with nine goals. Goalkeeper Georgios Theodoulidis has two shutouts and a 1.74 goals against average. SPU leads the all-time series 20-7-5 and won the last two meetings, including a 4-3 overtime decision on Oct. 2 in Seattle ended by a 105th-minute golden goal by Alden Massey.
 
Western Washington (5-7-0, 3-2-0 GNAC) -- The Vikings won three of their last four games. Drew Farnsworth and Gilbert De La Luz each have five goals to top the team. The goalkeeping trio of Brandon Wolter, Patrick Restum and Brandon Locke have combined for three shutouts (one apiece) and a 1.88 goals against average. The Falcons own a 49-20-10 lead in the all-time series and halted a five-game winless streak versus WWU with a 2-0 win on Oct. 14 in Bellingham.
 
Simon Fraser (6-5-0, 3-2-0 GNAC) -- Simon Fraser won its last two games, including a 1-0 home victory over SPU in the last outing, on Oct. 16. Ali Zohar netted the lone goal in the 21st minute. The Canadians' five defeats are the most in a season since a five-loss campaign in 2014. SFU hasn't had a six-or-more-loss season since joining the GNAC in 2010. Brody Thomas paces the Simon Fraser attack with three goals. Keeper Aiden Bain has five shutouts and a 1.07 goals against average. Simon Fraser owns a 30-27-7 series edge.
 
Meet the Interim Coach
Kevin Sakuda begins his inaugural season at the helm, acting as the men's interim head coach after serving six seasons as the SPU women's assistant coach. He had a nine-year professional playing career, including six seasons with the USL version of the Seattle Sounders. A product of Mission San Jose (Calif.) High School, Sakuda lettered four years on the Duke University squad before graduating in 2002 with a psychology degree. He was selected by San Jose in the third round of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, the 39th pick overall. Sakuda made 148 appearances as a defender with the USL from 2003-08. He played with the Montreal Impact in 2009 and the Austin Aztex in 2009-10. He also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 2002-05 with the San Diego Sockers. Sakuda is the fourth head coach in the 54-year history of SPU men's soccer. He replaced Mark Collings, who compiled a 129-68-32 record in 13 seasons (2008-20) before departing to become an assistant at the University of Washington. Cliff McCrath coached the Falcons to a 512-190-87 mark over 38 seasons (1970-2007) and Arnie Aizstrauts was 1-14-1 from 1968-69.