SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team continues early-season conference play this weekend with a match on the road and then one at home. SPU opens the weekend at Western Washington on Thursday at 7 p.m. followed by a home match against Montana State University Billings on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
QUOTABLE
"It's a big week for the team. We head north to play Western on Thursday, and then we are excited to be back at Interbay for our first conference game at home on Saturday. The GNAC is extremely tight, and as we've seen in results over the first weekend, margins in this conference are incredibly small. We've been pleased with several aspects of our performances, but I think we all felt we left some opportunities to be more dangerous on the table against NNU. We have a lot of control in games, but we need to execute the moments we create and upgrade to better opportunities when we can. Western and Billings are two tough, well-coached teams who present us with different challenges, but I know the guys are up for it and are excited to get back on the field this week." – head coach Kevin Sakuda.
LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons opened GNAC play against Northwest Nazarene last Thursday. SPU battled back into the match with a second-half goal and earned the 1-1 draw with the Nighthawks.
Coming out of the break, the Falcons went on the attack. Orlando Erazo created a chance for Raymundo Mendez. Mendez found the back of the net, leveling the match 1-1. It was his fourth goal this season. Mendez is tied for third in the conference in goals scored this season.
The Falcons consistently threatened throughout the second half. They put up 10 shots during that time. In total, four shots were on frame for SPU. Cameron Yriondo ripped a shot in the 85th minute. In the final minute, Christopher Soto nearly had a game-winner for SPU.
Donovahn Allen, Isaac Ketcham, and Jackson Goode played well defensively for the Falcons. The team faced 14 shots, with just three being on goal. Mitchell Wilson made the start in goal for the Falcons. He made two saves on the day.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
Western Washington entered the season selected as a co-favorite in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vikings return seven starters, including five All-GNAC honorees. Western Washington ended its 2022 campaign with an 8-4-0 record (12-4-3 overall). The Vikings led the conference in shutouts (10), goals against average (0.89), assists (40), and assists per game (2.11). On the offensive side, they ranked second in the GNAC with 106 points and third with 33 goals.
Albin Jonsson and Andrew Rotter return after being named First Team All-GNAC in 2022. Jonsson added GNAC Freshman of the Year and was recognized with United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-West Region honors. He started all but one game in his first season while leading the conference in points, points per game, goals, and goals per game. Jonsson is off to a hot start in 2023, leading the Vikings with five goals, one assist, and 11 points.
Rotter tied for fourth in the GNAC with five assists and 0.28 assists per game. Rotter also netted four goals of his own to tie for ninth in the conference with 13 points.
The Vikings have opened 2023 with a 3-3-2 record. They've yet to win a GNAC game, falling 1-0 to Saint Martin's before a scoreless draw with Northwest Nazarene last Saturday. The team is averaging 1.13 goals per game while allowing .75 goals per game to their opponents. WWU is sending in 15.3 shots per game with 35 of their 122 shots being on goal.
ABOUT THE YELLOWJACKETS
MSU Billings was selected for a fifth-place finish in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. They went 5-9-3 (3-6-3 GNAC) a season ago. The Yellowjackets ranked fourth in the GNAC with 67 points, 23 goals, 1.35 goals per game, 210 shots, 21 assists, and 1.24 assists per game. The team returns 12 players, including seven starters.
Callum Bryan leads the offensive returners for MSUB after a GNAC Honorable Mention nod last year. In 17 matches, Bryan notched five goals and three assists. His 13 points ranked second on the team and tied for ninth in the conference. Bryan's five goals also tied for seventh in the GNAC.
Jeremi Campagnolo returns in goal after compiling a 4-9-3 record through 16 matches. Campagnolo made 54 saves and recorded two shutouts in net through 1,404 minutes.
The Yellowjackets are 3-3-1 so far in 2023, with a 0-1 conference record. They opened conference play against Western Oregon and fell 0-2. MSUB will take on Saint Martin's before meeting SPU on Saturday. The Yellowjackets are scoring 1.57 goals per game, but are allowing 1.86 goals per game to opponents. Ty Vohland leads the group with five goals in 2023.
