26MSOC_Team
Mason Hrcek
The SPU men's soccer team celebrates a win at Interbay Soccer Stadium
4
Winner Seattle Pacific SPU (13-3-1, 6-2-1)
0
Saint Martin's SMU (5-10-2, 0-7-1)
Winner
Seattle Pacific SPU
(13-3-1, 6-2-1)
4
Final
0
Saint Martin's SMU
(5-10-2, 0-7-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Seattle Pacific SPU 2 2 4
Saint Martin's SMU 0 0 0

Game Recap: #7 Men's Soccer |

No. 7 Falcons Roll Past Saints, Secure GNAC Championships Berth

LACEY, Wash. – The 7th-ranked Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team traveled to Lacey, Wash., on Saturday afternoon to play Saint Martin's, where the Falcons secured the winningest season under head coach Kevin Sakuda and a spot in this year's Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships with a 4-0 victory over the Saints.

FROM THE COACH
"I'm incredibly proud of this group," head coach Kevin Sakuda said. "Getting to 13 wins and securing a spot in the GNAC tournament is a reflection of the hard work and commitment they have shown all season long. Today was another big step forward, but this group is hungry for more. We're excited for the opportunity to keep competing in the postseason."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Falcons took the lead in the 37th minute when Isaac Ketcham hammered a shot into the back of the net to put SPU up 1-0.
  • Moments later, the Falcons drew a foul in the box that set up a penalty kick goal by Owen Swartout.
  • SPU carried its 2-0 lead into halftime.
  • In the 72nd minute, Lucas Witthauer and Brady Reed connected passes that led to a goal from Judah Straight, putting the Falcons up 3-0.
  • Silvestre Vallejo made it 4-0 in favor of the Falcons in the 84th minute with an unassisted goal.
  • Willem Ficek and the SPU defense kept the Saints off the scoreboard to secure the 4-0 shutout victory.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
  • The Falcons finished the match with 23 shots; 14 of them were on goal.
  • Ketcham, Reed, and JP Guzman led the Falcons with three shots each.
  • The SPU defense held SMU to six shots in 90 minutes; none of them were on goal.
  • Ficek picked up the shutout without having to make a save against the Saints.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Saints was the 13th win for the Falcons in 2026, the most they've had in a season under coach Sakuda.
    • Sakuda has had two 12-win seasons in 2021 and in 2025.
  • The Falcons improved to 6-2-1 in conference play and sit atop the GNAC standings with 19 points.
    • SPU has enough points to ensure that they'll be one of the three teams to qualify for the GNAC Championships in Seattle on Nov. 5-7.
  • Ketcham's goal was his third of the season.
  • Straight scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season against the Saints.
  • Swartout and Vallejo each scored their first goal of 2026 on Saturday.
  • Ficek collected his fourth shutout of the season.
UP NEXT
The Falcons return to Seattle to play their final home matches of the regular season next week. SPU hosts Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 5:30 p.m. in what will be their final conference match of the year. Then on Saturday, Oct. 31, the Falcons will honor their senior class prior to a nonconference match against Jamestown.
 
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