PORTLAND, Ore. – For the first time in his career, Seattle Pacific University men's soccer standout
Rafael Lucio has been named the GNAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
Lucio helped the Falcons extend their current winning streak to four matches. It started on Thursday night when the team took down Westmont 3-2. Then on Saturday, the Falcons squared off against fourth-ranked Point Loma and hung on to a 1-0 victory over the Sea Lions.
The Falcons entered the season ranked 25
th in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. After beating fifth-ranked Stanislaus State during opening weekend, the Falcons moved to 10
th in week one's poll. After another victory over a top-five opponent, the Falcons are ranked second in the most recent update to the United Soccer Coaches National Poll.
"It was a big weekend for the group," head coach
Kevin Sakuda said. "We talk a lot about stacking performances, and the guys did exactly that this weekend. We're still discovering who we are as a team, but this group has a tremendous amount of belief and is committed to working for one another. It's been a great start, but there is a lot of season ahead of us, and the guys know we have to keep putting in the work to improve."
Lucio led all GNAC players with three goals scored in last week's matches, helping the Falcons extend their winning streak to four games to begin the 2026 season. Perhaps the biggest goal of his young career, the sophomore came through in the 84th minute against No. 4 Point Loma to break a scoreless deadlock and give the Falcons a 1-0 triumph.
Before Saturday's game-winning goal, Lucio notched a brace in Thursday's 3-2 win over Westmont. He tucked home a penalty kick in the 17th minute and added what proved to be the game-winner in the 74th minute. Lucio has already equaled his freshman-season goal total of four, finding the net in three of the Falcons' first four games of the campaign.
"I can't speak highly enough of Rafa," Sakuda said. "He's been battling an injury, and to continue to show up and deliver those types of performances is a testament to his character. He is one of the best attacking players in this league and brings a level of creativity that you can't teach. We trust him in big moments, and he made plays when it counted last weekend."
The Falcons hit the road for the first time in 2026 this weekend when they travel to Denver, Colo. They'll take on RV Regis on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. PST, followed by a match against Westminster on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. PST.
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