SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team 2024 season opens at home this weekend. The action starts on Thursday when they host Sonoma State at 7 p.m., followed by a match against #18 Chico State on Saturday at 1 p.m.
QUOTABLE
"We are excited to kick off the 2024 season this week. Similar to previous years, we have Sonoma and Chico, two teams that have a long history of exciting games with us. We know we will be tested and it's a great opportunity for the guys to play in front of our fans and showcase all the work they have put in not only the last two weeks but from going back to last spring. Saturday is extra special because we will have several former players back at Interbay for our Alumni Day." – head coach
Kevin Sakuda.
ALUMNI DAY
Join us this Saturday for SPU men's soccer Alumni Day, a special celebration honoring the rich history and achievements of our former players. The festivities will kick off when the Falcons host the Wildcats at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Alumni and fans will gather to cheer on the Falcons. Refreshments are available throughout the match.
But the fun doesn't stop there! After the game, we invite you to continue the celebration at our exclusive after-party. It's the perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends, share memories, and enjoy an evening of camaraderie and conversation. Those interested are encouraged to fill out the RSVP using this
link.
Mark your calendar and be part of this memorable event celebrating SPU men's soccer and the amazing community that supports it. We can't wait to see you there!
GNAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced its men's soccer preseason coaches poll last Wednesday, with Seattle Pacific landing in a tie for third with 32 points.
The reigning GNAC champion Simon Fraser Red Leafs lead the preseason coaches poll with five first-place votes and 43 points. Western Oregon earned the other two first-place votes and are two points behind the Red Leafs. The Falcons came in at third, tied with Western Washington—Northwest Nazarene, MSU Billings, and Saint Martin's round out the poll.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2023
The Falcons are coming off a 5-9-4 2023 season, resulting in a fifth-place finish in the conference. SPU scored 32 goals on the season for an average of 1.78 goals per game. The Falcons racked up 25 assists in 2023. SPU's 12.44 shots per game were the third-most in the conference.
MORE THAN ENOUGH EXPERIENCE
The Falcons have experience to lean on entering the 2024 season. Graduate students
Evan Aune and
Pierluca Carnovale, along with fifth-years
Judah Johnston,
Joseph Van Horn, and
Donovahn Allen, bring that experience to the team. Allen, Aune, Johnston, and Van Horn have combined to play 10,753 minutes for the Falcons. Aune earned First Team All-GNAC last season, while Van Horn had three goals, two assists, and eight points on his way to GNAC Honorable Mention.
Carnovale is a graduate transfer from Willamette University, where he made 49 starts and played 4,486 minutes in goal. He became a decorated keeper for the Bearcats, earning Second Team All-NWC in 2021, All-NWC Honorable Mention in 2022 and 2023, and Third Team All-Region in 2022.
SEQUAL TO SENSATIONAL FIRST SEASON WITH SPU
Raymundo Mendez returns after a breakout debut season for the Falcons. Mendez was named GNAC Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the First Team. He led the squad with 13 goals while adding two assists for 28 points. The Columbia Basin transfer tied for the second most goals in the GNAC. He had the third most points in the conference as well.
Mendez will look to pick up 2024 how he left 2023 when he scored five goals in the final three matches of the season. The stretch included a hat trick against Western Oregon on Nov. 4, resulting in a GNAC Player of the Week award.
KEY RETURNERS
Orlando Erazo,
Connor Tollan, and
Diego Pena-Salgado are back strong in the 2023 season. Erazo was a key piece to the SPU offense in 2023. He appeared in 18 matches, made 15 starts, and played 1,063 minutes for the Falcons. Erazo scored six goals and dished out five assists for 17 total points. The performance added up to a Second Team All-GNAC selection.
Tollan and Pena-Salgado were named GNAC Honorable Mentions. Tollan started all 17 matches he appeared in and played 1,065 minutes. He scored a goal and had two assists on the year. Pena-Salgado played 1,156 minutes, finishing the year with a goal and an assist.
TALENTED NEWCOMERS
SPU added eight accomplished recruits in the 2024 signing class. They include Carnovale,
Cristian Chel Lara,
Carter Gay,
Johan Gaytan,
Mateo Herrera,
Alexander Magana,
Chase Nelson, and
Lukas Shriner.
Chel Lara played four years of varsity soccer at Sammamish High School. He scored 13 goals and had seven assists as a junior. That same season, he was named First Team All-League.
Gay played four years of varsity soccer at Cascade High School. He made the All-Wesco Team as a junior. Gay has enjoyed success at the club level as well. He was U17 ECNL First Team All-Conference and on the U19 ECNL Conference Championship team in 2023 and 2024.
Gaytan played varsity soccer at Highline High School and Hillcrest High School. He gained big game experience, playing in the high school state tournament four times. His team played in the semifinals twice and finished second once. Gaytan was named All-Conference as a junior and senior. He shined during his senior season, adding a First Team All-State nod to his resumé. Gaytan moved to Bellevue College, where he was an honorable mention twice as a Bulldog.
Herrera Played four years of varsity soccer at Bothell High School. He was the ECNI Northwest Player of the Year in U17.
Magana played varsity soccer at Toppenish High School, followed by a stop at Columbia Basin College. He made a name for himself, earning Northwest Athletic Conference All-Star awards twice. Magana was named the 2022 SCAC Most Valuable Player award and was the Yakima Valley Player of the Year.
Nelson played four years of varsity soccer at Lakeridge High. He had a breakout season in 2023, being named First Team Three Rivers League and Three Rivers League Goalkeeper of the Year. He was also a NWAC Second Team member in 2022. Nelson played on a two-time Oregon State Championship team, while the team won a regional championship once.
Shriner played four years of varsity soccer at Newport High School. He was named All-Kingco Defensive MVP as a junior.
ABOUT SONOMA STATE
Sonoma State was in the hunt for a CCAA postseason berth until the season's final weekend. The Seawolves finished 4-5-2 in the CCAA and 6-8-4 overall. Keeper Jack Chapman had shutouts in three of his eight starts. The Seawolves were selected to finish eighth in the CCAA preseason coaches poll.
ABOUT #18 CHICO STATE
The Wildcats bring back 20 letter winners and three All-CCAA selections to a team that lost only two matches in 2023. The Wildcats opened the season with seven straight wins and finished 11-2-7 on the season and 4-1-6 in the CCAA. Chico boasted one of the best defenses in Div. II allowing only .636 goals per match (8th) and shutting out their opponents half the time (14th). The Wildcats landed in fourth in the CCAA preseason coaches poll.
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