SEATTLE – Christopher Soto scored his first career goal, while Brian Lanier picked up his third consecutive shutout for the Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team as the Falcons won their 2025 home opener 1-0 over Westminster on Thursday night.
 
FROM THE COACH
"The guys were good tonight," head coach Kevin Sakuda said. "Another clean sheet, and we had some good attacking moments. Soto was a handful all night and got rewarded for the shift he put in. We had some chances early on, but credit to Westminster, they turned the momentum a bit and made it hard on us. The guys showed a lot of maturity tonight to close the game out."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lukas Shriner tried to get the Falcons on the board in the 11th minute, but his low line drive shot was saved by the Griffin keeper.
• Connor Tollan had his shot saved in the 19th minute, keeping the score tied 0-0.
• In the 80th minute, Rafael Lucio set up Soto with a long pass down the middle of the field.
• Soto collected and ripped a shot into the lower left corner from 10 yards out.
  • Lucio was credited with an assist on Soto's goal.
• The Falcons held on for the final 10 minutes of the match to beat the Griffins, 1-0.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Shriner and Tollan led the Falcons with two shots each.
• Jackson Goode, Victor Cabanas, Kasey Toevs, and Chester March played well defensively in front of Lanier, limiting the Griffins to one shot on goal.
• Lanier played all 90 minutes in goal for the Falcons and made one save while facing seven shots from the Griffins.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Soto's goal was his first as a Falcon.
• Lanier picked up his third consecutive shutout for SPU.

UP NEXT
The Falcons host Regis, who are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll, on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Interbay Soccer Stadium.
 
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