SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this week in Nampa, Idaho when the Falcons take on Northwest Nazarene on Thursday at 3 p.m.PST.
QUOTABLE
"We are excited to kick off our GNAC campaign this week at NNU. They are a difficult opponent and we know we are going to have to be at our best on Thursday to get the result we want. We've got a great group of guys who are motivated and determined to make this a special year. When we are at our best, we don't shy away from playing our style and that is what is going to allow us to achieve everything we set for ourselves this year." – head coach Kevin Sakuda
LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons had a week with no matches before the start of conference play. They played a pair of Colorado teams on Sept. 14 and Sept. 16.
The weekend started with a match against Regis on Sept. 14. An instant goal and constant offensive pressure from the Falcons was canceled out by an 88th-minute dagger from the Rangers, as they left Seattle with a 2-1 win.
The game got off to an electrifying start as Orlando Erazo seized the moment just seconds after kickoff. Tyler Speer scooted the ball to Erazo on the left side, where he went to work. Erazo attacked the Rangers' defense and slotted the ball into the upper right corner of the net in the very first minute. The home crowd erupted as SPU took an early 1-0 lead.
SPU's dominant possession and numerous goal attempts showcased their determination to extend their lead. The Falcons totaled 23 shots, 10 on goal, to just eight from the Rangers. The Falcons had 13 of their 23 shots in the second half.
Connor Tollan was relentless for the Falcons throughout Thursday's contest. He led the way with four shots. Erazo, Raymundo Mendez, Donovahn Allen, and Luis Zazueta sent three shots each against the Rangers.
On Sept. 16, the team hosted RV Colorado School of Mines. Diego Pena-Salgado scored his first collegiate goal in the first half, but a late goal from the Orediggers made the Falcons settle for a draw.
Pena-Salgado scored his first collegiate goal against Mines on Saturday. Fellow newcomer Christopher Soto skipped a low cross in front of the goal. Pena-Salgado slotted by the near post with the left foot. Just like that, the Falcons led 1-0.
Mitchell Wilson earned his second career start He made three saves for the Falcons.
ABOUT THE NIGHTHAWKS
Northwest Nazarene entered 2023 on the back of its first GNAC title in program history. The Nighthawks compiled a 9-2-1 conference record before pressing on to the NCAA Super Region 4 Final and ending the season with a 15-4-3 overall record. En route to the super region final, Northwest Nazarene led the GNAC with 113 points, 39 goals, 267 shots, 1.77 goals per game, 35 assists, 1.59 assists per game, 80 saves, and seven shutouts.
James Williamson is at the helm of the Nighthawks for the first time in 2023. Jonathan Cardona is the top offensive returner for the Nighthawks. Cardona ranked third for NNU and was tied for sixth in the conference with 14 points. He recorded 10 assists and added two goals of his own.
Sullivan Smith returns as the team's leading goal scorer from last season. He scored five goals and added one assist through 22 matches. Ethan Atterberry returns after a First Team All-GNAC and United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-West Region selection. Atterberry ranked sixth for Northwest Nazarene in scoring last season with two goals and four assists.
GNAC Honorable Mention Sawyer Price is back in goal for the Nighthawks after ranking second in the GNAC last season with 77 saves. Starting all 22 matches, Price amassed a 15-4-3 record, 1.18 goals against average, a .748 save percentage, and seven shutouts while playing just under 2,000 minutes.
The Nighthawks are 2-3-1 in 2023. Like the Falcons, they've gone the last week without a match. NNU is 0-3 in their last three matches, falling 2-1 to Westminster, and 1-0 to West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian. The Nighthawks have scored and allowed the same number of goals (6) this season. Opponents have been on the attack more often than the Nighthawks, sending 82 shots to just 63 shots from NNU.
