NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene men's soccer team will head to Seattle for a GNAC matchup against No. 16 Seattle Pacific on Thursday. The Nighthawks and Falcons are scheduled for a 5:30 PM PT kickoff at Interbay Stadium.
The Nighthawks
The Nighthawks enter Thursday with an 8-4-6 overall record and a 3-3-3 mark in GNAC play. NNU is coming off a road trip that saw the Nighthawks play Saint Martin's to a scoreless draw before falling 4-2 at Western Oregon. Northwest Nazarene sits fourth in the GNAC standings with 12 points through nine conference matches.
Northwest Nazarene has scored 24 goals this season and is averaging 1.33 goals per game while allowing 19 goals for a 1.06 goals against average. The Nighthawks have outshot opponents 211-177 and are averaging 11.7 shots per game while allowing 9.8. NNU has put 91 shots on frame for a 43.1 shots on goal percentage while opponents have put 79 of their 177 attempts on target. The Nighthawks have recorded eight shutouts this season.
Caleb Putney leads the Nighthawk offense with eight goals, two assists, and 18 points while recording a team-high 42 shots. Putney scored both NNU goals against Western Oregon on Saturday, including his third penalty kick goal of the season. Jim Wagenaar follows with four goals, one assist, and nine points while Maddox Marcelli has scored three times. Abdullahi Sharif and Rylan McPherson have each added two goals.
Elijah Brockl has anchored the NNU defense in goal, helping the Nighthawks hold opponents to just over one goal per game this season. NNU's eight shutouts are tied for the most in the GNAC.
The Nighthawks need a win on Thursday to keep their GNAC Tournament hopes alive. NNU also needs Simon Fraser to lose both of its remaining matches against Western Oregon and Saint Martin's to have a chance at qualifying for the conference tournament.
The Falcons
Seattle Pacific enters Thursday with a 13-3-1 overall record and a 6-2-1 mark in GNAC play. The Falcons sit atop the GNAC standings with 19 points and have already secured a spot in the GNAC Championships. SPU is coming off a 4-0 road victory over Saint Martin's after falling 2-1 at Western Oregon two days earlier.
The Falcons have scored 41 goals this season and are averaging 2.41 goals per game while allowing 20 goals for a 1.18 goals against average. Seattle Pacific has outshot opponents 284-202 and averages 16.7 shots per game while allowing 11.9. SPU has put 110 shots on goal and has recorded five shutouts this season.
Judah Straight leads a balanced Seattle Pacific attack with six goals, four assists, and 16 points while recording a team-high 42 shots. Rafael Lucio and Lucas Witthauer have each scored five goals and added three assists for 13 points. JP Guzman has also scored five times this season while Isaac Ketcham has added three goals.
Willem Ficek has started all 17 matches in goal for the Falcons. Ficek has allowed 20 goals for a 1.20 goals against average while recording 52 saves for a 72.2 save percentage. He has posted four individual shutouts and holds a 13-3-1 record.
All-time vs SPU
NNU trails Seattle Pacific 7-22-9 in the all-time series but earned a 3-2 comeback victory over the Falcons in Nampa earlier this season. NNU erased a 2-0 second-half deficit as Caleb Putney scored twice before Rylan McPherson netted the game-winner in the 77th minute.
The Nighthawks are 4-3-3 over the last 10 meetings against Seattle Pacific. NNU's last victory at Interbay Stadium came in 2023 when the Nighthawks earned a 5-3 win. Northwest Nazarene is 1-12-6 all-time on the road against the Falcons.
