MEETING IN MONMOUTH: Western Oregon (2-2-0) and Saint Martin’s (2-2-0) are both set to take on Colorado Christian (1-0-2) this week in Monmouth. The Saints will get the action rolling on Thursday while the Wolves will face the Cougars on Saturday. Both SMU and WOU are among four GNAC teams to open the season 2-2-0 and will look to hand CCU its first losses of the season.

Saint Martin’s will look to find its goalscoring touch after junior goalkeeper Nick Mueller has been busy in net to start the season. Mueller leads the conference with a .833 save percentage and ranks second in the GNAC and 17th in Division II with 6.25 saves per game through four matches. As a team, the Saints are second in the conference and ninth in the division with an average of 6.75 saves per game.

Western Oregon has been one of the top offensive teams in the GNAC through non-conference play, ranking in the top three teams of the GNAC in points, goals, assists and assists per game. It has been a balanced scoring effort for the Wolves, with eight players tallying at least one point. Junior forward/midfielder Alejandro Velasco leads the offense with four points on two goals. Senior goalkeeper Juan Suarez has picked up right where he left off last season and leads the GNAC while ranking ninth in Division II with seven saves per game.

NIGHTHAWKS SEEK BIG WINS IN TEXAS: Northwest Nazarene (2-1-1) will look to build on its early season results with a winning road trip in Texas. The Nighthawks will face West Texas A&M (0-2-1) on Thursday in Canyon and Lubbock Christian (2-0-1) on Saturday in Lubbock. Northwest Nazarene’s offense has been led by freshman forward Jim Wagenaar who has notched seven points in four matches to rank second on the GNAC. Wagenaar notched the majority of his points in NNU’s 3-1 win over Chaminade on Sept. 2 where he finished with two goals and an assist. He also scored the game-winner in the Nighthawks’ 1-0 victory over Colorado Mesa last Thursday.

HOME IS WHERE THE FALCONS ARE: Seattle Pacific (2-2-0) has spent a lot of time away from home after a preseason trip to Spain and four straight road games to open the regular season. That long stretch on the road ends this week as the Falcons host Regis (1-2-1) on Thursday and Colorado Mines (0-0-3) on Saturday. The weekend will see SPU celebrate the 55th year of the program’s history and recognize the Falcons’ 1993 national championship team on Saturday

Read More: Overcome Odds, Exceed Expectations by Mark Moschetti/SPU Athletics

On the pitch, Seattle Pacific will aim to honor the past with results in the present as it prepares for the start of GNAC play. The Falcons have been one of the top-scoring teams in the conference and are tied for the GNAC lead with nine goals and seven assists. Reigning GNAC Offensive Player of the Week Raymundo Mendez will hope to keep SPU in the win column after tallying a goal and an assist in both matches last week.

 Saturday’s match against the Orediggers promises to be a test of that offensive form as Colorado Mines comes into the game earning votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Orediggers have conceded just four goals in three contests, two against top 20 ranked teams.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Simon Fraser (2-2-0) and Montana State Billings (3-1-0) will both face RMAC opponents Fort Lewis (2-1-0) and Colorado Mesa (2-2-0) in Burnaby this week. The Red Leafs will take on Fort Lewis on Thursday and Colorado Mesa on Saturday with MSUB playing the reverse schedule.

Simon Fraser will look to notch its first win at home this season after a pair of tough losses last week to CCAA opponents. The Red Leafs offense has been led by freshman forward Koji Poon with two goals and four points in the young season. In net, senior goalkeeper Justyn Sandhu has started every match for SFU and ranks second in the conference with an .826 save percentage. Sandhu also ranks third in the GNAC with 19 saves and 4.75 saves per game.

Montana State Billings has gotten off to the best start of any GNAC team this season despite taking a loss to cap off last week. As a team, the Yellowjackets lead the conference with two shutouts and are tied for the GNAC lead with nine goals. Sophomore forward Ty Vohland has led the charge for the offense and is tied for the conference lead and 17th in Division II with eight points in four matches. Vohland also leads the GNAC and ranks third in the division with four goals.

VIKINGS RETURN TO FRIENDLY WATERS: Western Washington (1-2-1) will be back at home for its regular season opener this week after playing four straight matches on the road in California. The Vikings went 1-1 last week, taking a 3-1 win over Concordia (0-3-0) before falling 1-0 to Point Loma (2-2-0). 

Western Washington will play Colorado Mines (0-0-3) on Thursday before taking on Regis (1-2-1) on Saturday. The Vikings will aim to maintain their defensive play this week after allowing just one goal in three of the season’s four matches. Senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in WWU’s win over Concordia last week. Locke ranks third in the conference with a 1.25 goals against average and is fifth with 11 saves.

Moises Cisneros, Western Oregon

Cisneros has quickly established himself as one of the top passing midfielders in the GNAC early in the season. The junior transfer from Taft College is tied for the conference lead with three helpers in four matches. Cisneros has started every one of those matches in his first season for the Wolves and is tied for second on the team with 350 minutes played. His three points are tied for second on the team and 10th in the GNAC.

He notched two of his helpers in Western Oregon’s 3-1 win over Hawaii Pacific (1-2-1) on Sept. 3 and notched one more on Sept. 7 against Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-0-1) in a 3-2 loss on the road. Cisneros will have his first opportunity to play in front of the fans in Monmouth on Saturday when the Wolves host their home opener against Colorado Christian (1-0-2).

The second United Soccer Coaches Division II rankings of the season came out on Sept. 12 with Northwest Nazarene slipping out of the top 25 after taking its first loss of the season, 2-1, against Westminster (Utah) (2-1-1). The Nighthawks will have the chance to put themselves back in the national picture on Thursday when they face West Texas A&M (0-2-1) on the road.