SEATTLE – Seattle Pacific University men’s soccer is set to face a challenging 2025 schedule, highlighted by the inaugural Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. Head coach Kevin Sakuda unveiled the slate on Wednesday, which includes an early season test with four road games in California.
The Falcons will embark on a demanding 2025 campaign, featuring a tough nonconference schedule, a lengthy home stand, and the introduction of a new conference tournament.
Falcons Kick Off Season on the Road
The 2025 season begins with a four-game road trip through California, as the Falcons take on teams from the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The gauntlet starts on Sept. 4 against Stanislaus State, followed by a matchup with Chico State on Sept. 6. The California swing concludes with games against Cal State LA on Sept. 11 and Dominguez Hills on Sept. 13.
Home Opener and Extended Homestand
Seattle Pacific’s first home match is scheduled for Sept. 18 against Westminster. The Falcons then host Regis on Sept. 20 at Interbay Soccer Stadium. The team will play a rare Wednesday and Friday double-header on Sept. 24 and Sept. 26, welcoming Dallas Baptist and St. Edward’s.
“We’re looking forward to the 2025 season,” said head coach Kevin Sakuda. “Our nonconference schedule will test us early with two back-to-back trips to California to face four of the top schools in the CCAA. Those games will demand our best right out of the gate.”
The Falcons will then dive into GNAC play, beginning a seven-game home stretch. Northwest Nazarene visits for the conference opener on Oct. 4. A highly anticipated match against Simon Fraser is set for Oct. 9 at 5:00 p.m., followed by a showdown with Western Washington in Seattle on Oct. 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Late-Season Home Stretch and GNAC Tournament
After a four-game road spell in the latter half of October, the Falcons return to Seattle for their final regular-season home games on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1. Western Oregon visits on Oct. 30 at 6:00 p.m., and Saint Martin’s comes to town on Nov. 1 at 6:00 p.m., which will also be Senior Day festivities. The regular season finale is a road contest against the Nighthawks.
This year marks a significant addition to the GNAC schedule: the men’s soccer tournament. The top three teams in the conference standings will qualify. The top-seeded team receives a first-round bye, advancing directly to the championship game. The GNAC tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“Once we hit GNAC play, every game becomes a battle,” Sakuda noted. “The conference is full of quality sides that know each other well, and every game is a difficult challenge.”
Looking Back and Looking Ahead
The Falcons are coming off a strong 2024 season, finishing 8-6-4 overall and 5-4-3 in GNAC play. They ended the season with two consecutive wins, securing a tie for third place in the GNAC standings.
Seattle Pacific had seven players named to the 2024 GNAC All-Conference teams. Connor Tollan returns after a standout season, leading the GNAC in assists with eight and recording five goals for 18 points, earning him a First Team All-GNAC selection. Diego Pena-Salgado, a Second Team All-GNAC honoree, returns after appearing in 12 matches, scoring twice and adding an assist. JJ Diaz, an Honorable Mention selection, is back after contributing three goals, three assists, and nine points in 2024.
Academically, 12 Falcons were named to the GNAC All-Academic team. Tollan, Jackson Goode, Isaac Ketcham, and Christopher Soto were also recognized as College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team members.
“Our expectations for this group are high,” Sakuda added. “We return a strong core, and we’ve added players who raise the level of the team. We believe in the group and if we stay connected and buy into putting the team first, we have the potential to do something special.”
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