SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team takes on two opponents from the north this weekend, with a split road and home weekend. The Falcons travel to Burnaby. B.C. to take on Simon Fraser on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Then on Saturday, SPU hosts Western Washington at 7 p.m.
QUOTABLE
"It's another big week against two rivals and two quality teams. We were disappointed after Saturday, but moments of adversity are amazing opportunities to learn and grow. I am proud of the way they guys have responded and trained this week and we are excited for a great opportunity on Thursday to play against the current top team in the conference." – head coach Kevin Sakuda.
HOW THEY STACK UP
SPU moved to 2-3-1 in GNAC play. They're tied with Saint Martin's for fourth in the conference with seven points. Simon Fraser and Western Oregon are tied for the top of the conference with 16 points.
STANDOUT STATISTICS
The Falcons rank third in the conference in both goals, assists, and points. The team has scored 21 goals and 14 assists which add up to 56 points.
Raymundo Mendez has been the Falcon's best goal-scorer. He's scored seven this season. Mendez ranks fifth in the conference in goals scored. Orlando Erazo isn't far behind with six goals, the seventh most in the GNAC. Mendez has 16 points while Erazo has 14 points. Cameron Yriondo has been the team's assist leader. He's tied for the sixth most in the GNAC with three.
LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons welcomed Saint Martin's last Saturday night for a match. SPU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Saints stormed back to take the match.
The Falcons got on the board in the 8th minute of the match. Erazo worked against his defender down the left side of the field. He crossed the ball into Joseph Van Horn. Van Horn got a foot to it in front of the goal. He smashed it upwards from four yards out for the goal. It was Van Horn's first of the season.
In the 28th minute, the Falcons earned a penalty kick after the Saints committed a foul in the box. Mendez stepped forward to take the penalty kick. He put the Falcons up 2-0 with his seventh goal of 2023.
GNAC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced its men's soccer All-Academic Team last week, featuring nine Seattle Pacific men's soccer student-athletes led by Tyler Speer's 4.0 and fourth selection to the team.
Speer led the way with four selections to the GNAC All-Academic team. Donovahn Allen, Judah Johnston, and Matthew Samson all made their third appearance on the list. Earning a spot on the team for the first time were Brady Fendrich, Jackson Goode, Aaron Stapleton, Connor Tollan, and Cameron Yriondo.
ABOUT THE RED LEAFS
The Red Leafs have been great this year, going 8-2-2 with a 5-0-1 GNAC record. The team is tied with Western Oregon for the top spot in the conference with 16 points. They've been stellar defensively, allowing .75 goals per game. They can score it as well, averaging 2.33 goals per game. Michael Hennessy is a threat anytime he steps on the pitch. He's scored 10 goals, dished out three assists, and has 23 points. Koji Poon has scored eight goals, while Devin O'Hea has scored six times.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
The Vikings own a 4-6-3 overall record and are 1-4-2 in GNAC play. They'll enter Saturday's match after a bout with Western Oregon on Thursday. The Vikings have played well defensively, giving up .92 goals per game. WWU has also struggled a bit offensively, scoring just one goal per game. Albin Jonsson is their leading scorer with five goals. He's an added assist as well. Brothers Ryan and Andrew Rotter have scored two goals each for the Vikings.
