NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene men's soccer team will hit the road for a pair of GNAC matches against Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. The Nighthawks will take on the Saints at 3 PM PT on Thursday before traveling to Monmouth to face the Wolves at 10 AM PT on Saturday.
The Nighthawks
The Nighthawks enter the week with an 8-3-5 overall record and a 3-2-2 mark in GNAC play. NNU split a pair of home matches last week, falling 1-0 to Western Washington before earning a 3-1 victory over Simon Fraser on Senior Day. The win over the Red Leafs moved NNU into a tie for second in the GNAC standings with 11 points through seven conference matches.
Northwest Nazarene has scored 22 goals this season and is averaging 1.38 goals per game while allowing 15 goals for a 0.94 goals against average. The Nighthawks have outshot opponents 175-160 and are averaging 10.9 shots per game while allowing 10.0. NNU has put 74 shots on frame for a 42.3 shots on goal percentage while opponents have put 68 of their 160 attempts on target. The Nighthawks have recorded six shutouts this season.
Caleb Putney leads the Nighthawk offense with six goals, two assists, and 14 points. Jim Wagenaar follows with four goals, one assist, and nine points while Maddox Marcelli has recorded three goals and one assist for seven points. Abdullahi Sharif has added two goals and one assist while Rylan McPherson has scored twice. Marcelli scored twice in NNU's 3-1 victory over Simon Fraser while Wagenaar added the opening goal.
Elijah Brockl has handled the majority of the minutes in goal for NNU and has helped anchor a defense that has allowed less than one goal per game this season. The Nighthawks have allowed multiple goals just four times through their first 16 matches.
The Saints
Saint Martin's enters the week with a 5-9-1 overall record and an 0-6 mark in GNAC play. The Saints opened the season 5-3-1 but have dropped six straight matches since beginning conference play. SMU is coming off a 6-2 loss at Western Oregon after falling 4-0 at Seattle Pacific and 3-1 at NNU the previous week.
Saint Martin's has scored 27 goals this season while allowing 32. The Saints have taken 168 shots with 70 attempts on goal while opponents have recorded 228 shots and 111 shots on frame. SMU has recorded 29 assists and three shutouts through 15 matches.
Grant Deuel leads the Saints with six goals while Juan Diaz has recorded five goals and seven assists. Xander Koenig has scored four goals and has been one of SMU's top distributors while Corbin Herrera has also been a key part of the Saints' attack. Kodyn Flynn scored one of Saint Martin's two goals in its most recent match against Western Oregon.
Connor Leistiko has handled the majority of the minutes in goal for Saint Martin's. The Saints have allowed 32 goals this season while recording 78 saves.
All-time vs SMU
NNU leads Saint Martin's 23-12-4 in the all-time series after earning a 3-1 victory over the Saints in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 8 in Nampa. Allan Huerta opened the scoring for the Nighthawks before Jim Wagenaar and Abdullahi Sharif found the back of the net in the second half. NNU will look to complete the regular-season sweep of the Saints on Thursday.
The Wolves
Western Oregon enters the week with a 7-3-5 overall record and a 3-1-2 mark in GNAC play. The Wolves are coming off back-to-back wins, earning a 6-2 conference victory over Saint Martin's before defeating Jamestown 3-0 in nonconference action on Saturday. WOU and NNU played to a scoreless draw in Nampa on Oct. 10.
Western Oregon has scored 35 goals this season and is averaging 2.33 goals per game while allowing 18 goals for a 1.20 goals against average. The Wolves have taken 236 shots and average 15.7 shots per game with 119 shots on goal for a 50.4 shots on goal percentage. Opponents have taken 186 shots and average 12.4 per game with 83 attempts on frame. WOU has recorded six shutouts this season.
Archie Dhima leads the Wolves with 13 goals, three assists, and 29 points while recording 48 shots and 30 shots on goal. Dhima has scored four game-winning goals and is a perfect 5-for-5 on penalty kicks. Ignacio Brandan follows with five goals, three assists, and 13 points while Marcus Vazquez has recorded three goals and a team-high five assists. Jacob Solek has added three goals and two assists.
Austin Valdez has started all 15 matches in goal for Western Oregon and has allowed 18 goals for a 1.21 goals against average. Valdez has recorded 61 saves for a 77.2 save percentage while posting five individual shutouts and a 7-3-5 record.
All-time vs WOU
NNU trails Western Oregon 3-4-2 in the all-time series after the two teams played to a scoreless draw in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 10 in Nampa. The Nighthawks held an 18-7 advantage in shots and put eight attempts on frame while the Wolves recorded one shot on goal. NNU's most recent victory over Western Oregon came in 2024 with a 4-2 win in Nampa.
