LACEY, Wash. – The Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team had their best offensive display of 2024 in Thursday afternoon's 6-1 route of Saint Martin's, as the Falcons opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with an emphatic win.
The goals were frequent for the Falcons in Thursday's GNAC opener. Five different Falcons found the back of the net, with four goals coming in the second half. The last time SPU scored six goals in a match came against the Saints on October 31, 2022, when Falcons pummeled the Saints 9-0 at home.
2023 GNAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team member
Raymundo Mendez got the scoring party started in the 4th minute. Mendez scored after a shot by
JJ Diaz bounced off the keeper's hands and landed in front of Mendez for the easy finish to put SPU up 1-0.
The Saints tied the match 1-1 before
Carter Gay put the Falcons on top where they would stay for the remainder of the game. He scored a sensational game-winning goal against Regis two weekends ago and scored again on Thursday. Moments before halftime, a scrum in front of the goal allowed Gay to poke it into the net. Gay's second career goal gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead.
"It was a great overall performance from the entire team," head coach
Kevin Sakuda said. "We talked about starting quickly, and Ray got that first one in the first five minutes of the game. The second goal right before halftime changed the game. Going into halftime up a goal was huge and set the tone for the 2nd half. Lots of guys were influential in scoring and helping us win which is a sign of not only our depth but the quality we have in the team."
Connor Tollan scored two goals on Thursday, both coming in the second half. In the 59th minute, Tollan took advantage of the keeper coming too far out from the goal and slid it past him to put SPU up 3-1.
Tollan added to the lead and his totals in the 66th minute.
Diego Pena-Salgado sent a nice ball into Tollan, who finished strong to put the Falcons up 4-1.
Pena-Salgado scored a goal in the 75th minute. A pass was flicked back to Pana-Salgado who planted and struck with the right foot from 15 yards out, scoring in the top right corner.
Brady Fendrich scored his first goal of the year in the 89th minute.
Alexander Hristov set it up with a pass that led to Fendrich's goal.
"Really fun start to the GNAC season," Sakuda said. "Now it's about getting our bodies right and preparing for a really difficult opponent on Saturday."
The Falcons return home for a massive match against Western Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Interbay Soccer Stadium.
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