Nighthawks Welcome No. 10 Falcons, Jimmies in Two-Game Homestand

9/23/2026 1:43:00 PM | By: Josh Tatton - Sports Information Director

NAMPA, Idaho - The NNU men's soccer team will open their GNAC schedule with No. 10 Seattle Pacific on Thursday night before hosting their final non-conference opponent of the year with Jamestown on Saturday.

The Nighthawks

Northwest Nazarene starts conference play after a pair of wins in Salem, Ore. a week ago. The Nighthawks have put together a 4-1-3 overall record highlighted by an upset win over No. 12 Fort Lewis. NNU started the season with three straight draws agasint Westminster (Utah), MSU Denver, and Cal Poly Humboldt before securing their first victory with a 1-0 score over Menlo College in Atherton, Calif. The Nighthawks added another win over No. 12 Fort Lewis on Sept. 10 before dropping their first match of the season to Colorado Mesa, 2-0. NNU got back on track this past week with a 1-0 win over West Texas A&M and a 2-0 win over St. Mary's (Texas).

The Nighthawks have scored nine goals this season, averaging 1.13 per game. They have taken 77 total shots for 9.6 shots per game, 36 of which have been on goal (46.8 shots on goal percentage). Northwest Nazarene has been one of the top defensive units in the GNAC only surrendering six goals, 0.75 goals against per game. That average ranks top of the GNAC and tied-18th in NCAA Division II.

Caleb Putney leads the Nighthawks with three goals, two assists, and eight points. Abdullahi Sharif has a goal and an assist to his season total while Alex Barragan, Elijah Grimaldo, Rylan McPherson, and Jim Wagenaar have on goal each. Kwame Kwakye leads with two assists and while Carson Din has one assist.

Eljiah Brockl has been force in goal for NNU. He has played in seven games, starting in six while securing 25 saves and has conceded five goals with an 83.3 save percentage which is second in the GNAC and tied-19th in Division II. Brockl's four shutouts are tied fourth most in Divison II and the most in the GNAC. Brockl had a tremendous week securing eight saves, four in each game, while not giving up goal in both shutout wins for the Nighthawks. His efforts earned him GNAC Defensive Player of the Week.

The Falcons

Seattle Pacific has shown to be one of Division II's top teams after putting together a 7-1 record, which includes two top-five sins over No. 5 Stanislaus State 3-1 and No. 4 Point Loma 1-0. The Falcon's lone loss came at the hands of RV Regis, 3-1 on Sept. 10 but have since rattled off three straight wins over Westminster (Utah), Dallas Baptist, and St. Edwards, outscoring their opponents 5-1 in that stretch.

SPU has scored 17 goals this season, averaging 2.13 goals per game with 120 shots. 45 shots have been on frame with a 37.5 shots on goal percentage. The have given up nine goals this season with 1.13 goals per game and have given up 106 shots, 33 on goal (31.1 shots on goal percentage).

Rafael Lucio has netted a team high five goals for ten points while JP Guzman, Judah Straight, and Lucas Witthauer have scored twice. David Ochoa, Isaac Grimes, Harper Sabari, Cooper Schneider, and Kasey Toevs have each scored once this season. JJ Diaz leads the team with three assists while Sabastian Rangel has two assists.

Willem Ficek has started every game in goal for the Falcons and has secured 24 saves on 107 shots faced with a save percentage of 72.7 and a goals against average of 1.13.

All-time vs Seattle Pacific

NNU trails in the all-time series 6-22-9, with their last win coming on Nov. 9, 2023 (5-3). SPU swept the season series with two 4-1 wins en route to a GNAC Championship appearance.

The Jimmies

University of Jamestown enters this contest in their final year as an independent team with a 1-3-3 overall record after starting the season much like the Nighthawks, with three straight draws. Those results came against Morningside (Iowa, NAIA), South Dakota Mines, and Colorado Mesa before falling 4-0 to Westminster (Utah). The Jimmies got their first win of the season against fellow NSIC member, St. Cloud State (W, 2-0). They then followed that up with two straight losses to Northern Michigan and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D., NAIA).

Jamestown has scored seven goals this season, averaging 1.00 goals per game. They have recorded 48 total shots and 19 shots on goal with a 39.6 shots on goal percentage. The Jimmies have given up 18 total goals, 2.57 goals per game and allowing 2.57 goals per game. They have allowed 137 shots, 19.6 shots per game wiht 68 of them being on target. Opponents have a 49.6 shots on goal percentage.

Nuutti Norhomaa leads UJ with three goals and one assist for seven points. Andrei Filho follows with one goal and one assist while Sohaib Bouika el Haddad Kaddour, Justin Junaid, and Johannes Kappeler have one goal. Saif Ghobhbani has two assist on the year.

Valon Ismaili has started every game for the Jimmies, securing 49 saves on 137 total shots. Ismaili has given up 18 goals and is averaging 2.57 goals against per game and has a 73.1 save percentage with two shutouts.