NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene men's soccer team returns home for a pair of GNAC matches against Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. The Nighthawks will host the Saints at 7 PM on Thursday before taking on the Wolves at 1 PM on Saturday.
The Nighthawks
The Nighthawks enter the week with a 6-2-4 overall record and a 1-1-1 mark in GNAC play. The Nighthawks dropped to 22nd in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Rankings after an 0-1-1 week. NNU is coming off its first conference road trip of the season where it earned a 2-2 draw against Western Washington before falling 2-0 to Simon Fraser. The Nighthawks opened GNAC play with a 3-2 win over No. 10 Seattle Pacific and have earned four points through their first three conference matches.
Northwest Nazarene has scored 16 goals this season and is averaging 1.33 goals per game while allowing 12 goals for a 1.00 goals against average. The Nighthawks have taken 113 shots and are averaging 9.4 shots per game with 49 shots on goal for a 43.4 shots on goal percentage. Opponents have taken 123 shots and are averaging 10.3 shots per game with 51 shots on frame. NNU has recorded five shutouts this season.
Caleb Putney leads the Nighthawks with six goals, two assists, and 14 points while recording a team-high 26 shots and 12 shots on goal. Jim Wagenaar follows with two goals, one assist, and five points while Rylan McPherson has scored two goals for four points. Alex Barragan, Illyès El Yansli, and Abdullahi Sharif have each recorded one goal and one assist. Carson Din and Kwame Kwakye have each tallied two assists.
Elijah Brockl has appeared in 11 matches with 10 starts in goal and has allowed 11 goals for a 1.01 goals against average. Brockl has secured 35 saves for a 76.1 save percentage while recording five shutouts and a 6-2-3 record.
The Saints
Saint Martin's enters the week with a 5-6-1 overall record and an 0-3 mark in GNAC play. The Saints opened the season with back-to-back wins over Walla Walla and Westmont before dropping road matches against Stanislaus State and Chico State. SMU went 3-1-1 over its next five matches before opening conference play with three straight losses to Western Washington, Simon Fraser, and Western Oregon. The Saints bounced back in their most recent match with a 5-0 nonconference win over Jamestown.
Saint Martin's has scored 24 goals this season and is averaging 2.00 goals per game while allowing 19 goals for a 1.58 goals against average. The Saints have taken 141 shots and average 11.8 shots per game with 56 shots on goal for a 39.7 shots on goal percentage. Opponents have taken 162 shots and average 13.5 per game with 73 shots on frame.
Juan Diaz leads the Saints with five goals, seven assists, and 17 points. Xander Koenig follows with four goals, five assists, and 13 points while Grant Deuel has recorded five goals, two assists, and 12 points. Corbin Herrera has added three goals and two assists for eight points while Kodyn Flynn has one goal and three assists. Deuel is coming off a hat trick in Saint Martin's 5-0 win over Jamestown.
All-time vs SMU
NNU leads the all-time series against Saint Martin's 22-12-4 and has won four straight meetings. The Nighthawks swept the season series in 2025, earning a 3-0 win in Lacey before taking a 4-3 decision in Nampa. NNU is 6-2-2 over the last 10 meetings and holds an 11-6-2 record against the Saints in Nampa. The series dates back to Oct. 4, 2008.
The Wolves
Western Oregon enters the week with a 5-2-4 overall record and a 2-0-1 mark in GNAC play and are receiving votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Rankings. The Wolves have put together an unbeaten start to conference action with a scoreless draw against Simon Fraser followed by a 3-2 win over Western Washington and a 3-0 victory over Saint Martin's. WOU will travel to Seattle Pacific on Thursday before making the trip to Nampa on Saturday.
Western Oregon has scored 24 goals this season and is averaging 2.18 goals per game while allowing 13 goals for a 1.18 goals against average. The Wolves have taken 175 shots and average 15.9 shots per game with 86 shots on goal for a 49.1 shots on goal percentage. Opponents have taken 140 shots and average 12.7 per game with 60 shots on frame.
Archie Dhima leads the Wolves with 11 goals, two assists, and 24 points. Dhima has recorded 41 shots with 24 on goal and has scored three game-winning goals. Ignacio Brandan follows with three goals, three assists, and nine points while Erick Chavez and Jacob Solek have each recorded two goals and two assists. Marcus Vazquez has added three goals.
Austin Valdez has started all 11 matches in goal for Western Oregon and has allowed 13 goals for a 1.18 goals against average. Valdez has recorded 46 saves for a 78.0 save percentage while posting four shutouts and a 5-2-4 record.
All-time vs WOU
NNU trails Western Oregon 3-4-1 in the all-time series. The Wolves took a 2-1 decision in Nampa in the most recent meeting last season after the two teams played to a scoreless draw in Monmouth earlier in the year. NNU's most recent win over Western Oregon came in 2024 with a 4-2 victory in Nampa. The Nighthawks hold a 2-2 record against the Wolves at home. The series dates back to Sept. 29, 2022.
