Seattle Pacific University Athletics

(2023): GNAC All-Academic Team Member

(2022): Appeared in one match for the Falcons … played a season-high 13 minutes against Saint Martin’s (10/31) … earned GNAC All-Academic honors

Personal: Matthew Negash Samson. ... Business Administration major.

Reason he chose SPU: "I wanted to stay close to home so that I wouldn't be too far from my family."

O'Dea High School: Made the All-Metro League 2nd team in 2019.

Fun facts: Has been playing soccer "as long as I can remember." ... If not for soccer, would consider playing football as a kicker, or basketball. ... Favorite sports to watch other than soccer are basketball and mixed martial arts (MMA). ... Favorite soccer memory is saving three penalty kicks in the league playoffs and advancing to the state tournament. ... Dumbest movies he has ever seen are "Tropic Thunder" and "The Interview." ... Book he just couldn't put down was "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." ... Favorite junk food is ice cream sandwiches. ... Favorite healthy food is mangoes. ... Favorite TV program is "Narcos." ... Favorite team is FC Barcelona. ... Favorite athlete is Lionel Messi. ... His dream car is a Tesla Model X. ... Loves to shop for retro soccer jerseys. ... Easiest subjects in school are history and English. ... Toughest subject is chemistry. ... If he could invite anyone to dinner, it would be soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic because "he is one of the most recognizable soccer players of all time and he has one of the biggest personalities, so being around him seems to be always entertaining." He would serve a bowl of fettucine alfredo with a side of chicken. ... If he could be any action hero, would be The Flash because "I would then switch positions to become a forward and just use super speed and score at least five goals a game." ... His friends call him Matt or Mati. ... In 10 years, hopes to be playing soccer professionally and be able to represent the Ethopian national team. ... Was born in the U.S., but has visited his parents' native Ethiopia five times.