SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific Athletics Department congratulates cross country runner Annika Esvelt and soccer player Orlando Erazo as this week's SPU Athletics Falcons of the Week.
 

ANNIKA EVELT / WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
WHAT SHE DID: Esvelt went to the front in the early part of the race and continued to stretch out her commanding lead the rest of the way on the way to winning the Emerald City Open on Saturday. Esvelt completed six very hilly kilometers at Lower Woodland Park in 22 minutes, 26 seconds. She crossed the finish line 68 seconds ahead of her closest challenger for her third collegiate cross country victory.

QUOTABLE: "I sort of did the same race plan as the last two (meets). But it's definitely getting better and more comfortable racing it, which gives me a lot of confidence going into GNACs," Esvelt said. "I wanted to have fun, and this is a good course to have fun, with the rolling hills, and the weather was perfect – and that's awesome."
 
 
ORLANDO ERAZO / MEN'S SOCCER
WHAT HE DID: Erazo scored on a penalty kick in the 50th minute, then scored again just three minutes last as the Falcons defeated Montana State Billings last Saturday, 3-0. Erazo drilled his penalty kick to the lower left corner to give SPU a 2-0 lead. Then, after taking a pass from Silvestre Vallejo, he flipped the ball over the head of the onrushing MSUB goalkeeper and into the net, helping the Falcons secure their first GNAC victory of the season.
 
QUOTABLE: "Orlando had a really good performance on Saturday. He stepped up with the PK, then had a great finis on the other one," head coach Kevin Sakuda said. "We've talked out front guys about making an impact and kind of helping influence games, and that's what he did on Saturday."
 
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