Seattle University Men’s Soccer ended their season in an exciting 3-2 win over San Francisco Nov. 14. From early goals to late defensive urgency, the Senior Night match was marked by emotional reflections from players approaching the end of their Seattle U careers.
Senior midfielder Lars Thorne-Thomsen found space inside the box, assisted by midfielder Luke Hammond, in the 15th minute to give the Redhawks the lead 1-0. Thorne-Thomsen said the goal was a significant moment for him, especially on his final night on Championship field.
“Luke hit me with a great ball,” Thorne-Thomsen said. “He was my roommate my first year, so seeing that chemistry come together felt amazing.”
Just three minutes later, Seattle U doubled the lead. Sophomore midfielder Edgar Leon scored his second goal of the year in the 17th minute thanks to an assist from Senior defender Eiji Hata. The quick goals fired up the home crowd.
In the 20th minute, San Francisco responded when David Raphael’s goal cut Seattle U’s lead to 2-1. For the next 20 minutes, the Dons pushed forward, forcing Senior goalkeeper Charlie Lanphier to make a couple of diving stops.
As the first half went on, the game became physical and Seattle U received two early yellow cards. Senior midfielder Yuta Toya received a yellow card in the 34th minute after a number of aggressive challenges, while Sophomore forward Jaggar Judkins was booked in the 18th minute.
Seattle U’s third goal came at a critical time. Late in the first half, Leon and Freshman forward Brice Miller teamed up for a two-man run that led to Miller’s first collegiate goal with only 48 seconds left in the first half. This gave the Redhawks the two-point lead again, making the score 3-1 at halftime. That goal, according to head coach Nate Daligcon, helped keep the game under control.
“That goal right before halftime really helped,” Daligcon said. “San Francisco was starting to generate more pressure. Getting that one gave us momentum and let us go into the locker room with confidence.”
Seattle U played strong defense in the second half. Unfortunately, multiple Seattle U players suffered minor injuries throughout the half, disturbing the team’s rhythm and requiring regular substitutions. San Francisco had over 20 shots at the end of the game and controlled possession. Lanphier encountered many challenges, including multiple saves. As the Dons continued their attack, Lanphier said he was proud to have played his part in the win.
“I’m glad I did my job,” Lanphier said. “It was a whole team effort. I’m just happy I could contribute what I could and help the team win.”
San Francisco cut the lead to 3-2 after Raphael’s second goal of the match in the 81st minute. As the final minutes came closer, the Dons took control of almost all possessions. The Redhawks kept the lead by multiple late clearances in the box and blocked attempts on goal. The home crowd erupted as the Redhawks secured their Senior Night victory by fighting off four late shots and a San Francisco corner in the last minute.
“The fans helped keep us going,” Thorne-Thomsen said. “We were defending hard at the end as they tried to tie the game, but the crowd’s support pushed us through.”
Lanphier felt a sense of closure and significance during his final match. He shared that reflecting on his years in the program kept him grounded and grateful, and that playing in front of family and friends made the night even more important.
“I’ve been reflecting and enjoying every moment,” Lanphier said. “When I’m having struggles or doubts, I remind myself of the privilege of the position I’m in. Staying grounded kind of kept my mindset in a good spot.”
Daligcon said that the victory was a fitting way to celebrate the Senior class because they put out a lot of effort and enjoyed the moment to the fullest. He continued by saying that, although it was bittersweet to watch the Seniors play their last home game, the outcome made the night meaningful for the entire program.
“They battled,” Daligcon said. “We told them to enjoy the moment.”
The team finished the 2025 season with a 2-4-3 conference record in its first season in the West Coast Conference, and a 4-7-6 overall record. Daligcon stated that he is still hopeful about the program’s future, noting the strength of the incoming recruits and the experience that underclassmen have received.
“A lot of the young players got a lot of minutes this year, which was great. They got a lot of experience. We signed five guys in the early signing period, all very, very good players, probably one of the top players in the state,” Daligcon said. “For us now it’s just making sure that we develop these guys and get them moving in the right direction in the offseason, and then we’ll look at bringing in some transfers and some older, experienced guys as well.”
