COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: After all seven teams took a week off from competition, this week’s slate sees them all back in action for the start of conference competition. Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific both have a bye this week and will play one match while Simon Fraser, Western Oregon, Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin’s and Western Washington will all play two matches.

GNAC ROADS, TAKE ME HOME: Of the 40 non-conference matches played by GNAC teams this season, 30 were played away from home. The conference schedule will prove a welcome return to the GNAC footprint for all teams while defending GNAC champion Northwest Nazarene will be particularly happy to play at home for the first time this season. Saint Martin’s will have to wait one more week for its home opener as it plays on the road at Western Washington and Simon Fraser to open conference play.

 IN THE WOLVES’ DEN: Western Oregon (3-2-0) will open the conference season by hosting Simon Fraser (3-2-1) on Thursday before hitting the road to face Montana State Billings (3-2-1) on Saturday. The Wolves look to have made solid progress in the program’s sophomore campaign, leading the GNAC with 1.80 assists per game and nine total assists. In net, senior goalkeeper Juan Suarez has picked up right where he left off last season. Suarez leads the conference and ranks eighth in Division II with 6.60 saves per game.

The Wolves’ offense has been facilitated by strong passing play that, more often than not, finds junior forward/midfielder Alejandro Velasco who leads the team with three goals and is tied for the team lead with six points along with junior forward Gabriel Silva. The production from Silva has been balanced through the non-conference schedule with the Sao Luis, Brazil, native tallying two goals and two assists.

The first game of the conference slate will be a test for WOU’s offense as it faces one of the best defensive teams in Division II. Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and ranks 18th in Division II with a .667 goals against average and has shut out its opposition 50% of the time this season. Making the difference in net for the Red Leafs is senior goalkeeper Justyn Sandhu who leads the conference and ranks 11th in the division with a .882 save percentage. Sandhu has posted three shutouts while also recording the second-most saves in the conference with 30. The only goalkeeper with more is Suarez with 33.

Freshman forward Koji Poon has paced the Red Leafs through the non-conference schedule with six points on three goals, including a pair of game-winners. He is one of eight SFU players to tally at least one point in non-conference play and one of just two with multiple points.

HIVE MENTALITY: Montana State Billings (3-2-1) has found the back of the net 11 times in six matches to start the season and tie for the GNAC lead. The Yellowjackets have emerged from a dark horse preseason pick (No. 5 in the GNAC preseason coaches poll) into being one of the top offensive teams heading into conference play.

The Yellowjackets’ prolific offense has come in large part due to sophomore forward Ty Vohland who is tied for the GNAC lead with 11 points in six matches. Vohland has already scored five times this season and also added one assist to lead an MSUB squad that features six points-scorers.

 As a team, MSUB is tied for the GNAC lead with 11 goals and 1.83 goals per game. The Yellowjackets also rank fourth in the conference with seven assists and 1.17 helpers per game. Montana State Billings will have to wait the longest of any team to open the conference slate, taking a bye on Thursday before hosting Western Oregon on Saturday.

NO PLACE LIKE NAMPA: Northwest Nazarene (2-3-1) will return home to play for the first time this season and will be the only team to play two matches at home this week. The Nighthawks will host Seattle Pacific (2-3-1) on Thursday before taking on Western Washington (3-2-1) on Saturday.

The NNU offense has been led by freshman forward Jim Wagenaar with seven points on three goals and an assist. Wagenaar is one of nine players to start all six matches for NNU this season and will look to continue bringing offensive production for the Nighthawks in his first week of GNAC play. This week also marks the first week of conference competition for first-year head coach James Williamson.

The Nighthawks’ defense will have its hands full to open the conference slate when they host Seattle Pacific on Thursday. The Falcons have paced the GNAC through non-conference play with 5.17 points per game and are tied for the conference lead with 11 goals in six matches.

As a team, Seattle Pacific also ranks first in the conference with 31 points and nine assists. The Falcons also rank second in the GNAC with 1.83 goals and 1.50 assists per game. Junior midfielder Raymundo Mendez has led the offensive charge in his first season for SPU and ranks third in the conference with eight points on three goals and two assists.

BRINGING IT IN BELLINGHAM: Western Washington (3-2-1) comes into conference play on the back of two impressive shutout wins against non-conference foes two weeks ago. Last time out, the Vikings defeated Colorado Mines 3-0 and Regis 2-0 in a week where their leading goal-scorer Albin Jonsson notched three goals, including both game-winners. Jonsson is also tied for the GNAC lead with 11 points in six matches after a freshman season where he led the conference in scoring.

The Vikings have been undefeated at home this season and will look to keep that streak going as they host Saint Martin’s on Thursday before making the trip to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. The last time Western Washington lost at home was on Oct. 15 to NNU in a 2-0 decision. As a team, WWU ranks second in the conference with a 0.83 goals against average and just five goals allowed this season.

INTO THE NORTH: Saint Martin’s (2-2-1) will open its 2023 conference slate by traveling to face Western Washington (3-2-1) and Simon Fraser (3-2-1). Defense has been the name of the game for the Saints who come into GNAC play tied for second in the conference with two shutouts, both courtesy of junior goalkeeper Nick Mueller.

Mueller ranks second in the GNAC and 23rd in Division II with a .844 save percentage as one of the top goalkeepers in the conference. He has also been one of the busiest netminders in the conference, ranking second in the GNAC and 16th in the division with 5.40 saves per game.

The Saint Martin’s offense has been led by junior midfielder Nathan McLellan with three points on a goal and an assist. McLellan is one of six players to start every match for SMU this season and will look to spark the offense against a defensively strong Western Washington squad on Thursday. On Saturday, the Saints will make their second trip of the season north of the border to face Simon Fraser after playing a pair of neutral site non-conference games in Burnaby earlier in the season.

Jim Wagenaar, Northwest Nazarene

Wagenaar has been one of the top offensive threats in the conference to start his freshman campaign. The forward from Den Bosch, Netherlands has notched three goals in six matches for NNU and ranks fourth in the GNAC with seven points. Wagenaar scored the first goal of his collegiate career in Northwest Nazarene’s 3-1 win over Chaminade on Sept. 2. He scored the opening tally in the 13th minute before doubling down with the game-winner in the second half and adding an assist.

His third goal of the season was also a game-winner in NNU’s 1-0 victory over now No. 24 Colorado Mesa on Sept. 7. Wagenaar will look to continue his offensive campaign as he and the Nighthawks host Seattle Pacific and Western Washington this week. 

The fourth United Soccer Coaches Division II rankings of the season came out on Sept. 26 with no GNAC teams featuring in the top 25.