Seattle U brings a dangerous attack to the Fewing Cup. Can it make the threat travel?

A cross-city match offers the simplest possible stage for a college program: a familiar opponent, a local audience, and a chance to make its own argument on the field. Seattle University arrives at this year’s Fewing Cup with something more substantial than rivalry energy. Its attack has recently produced individual performances that Washington will have to respect.

This is a pregame analysis published before the October 14 match. Seattle U’s official preview lists a 7 p.m. Pacific kickoff at Husky Soccer Stadium, with the Redhawks at 4-3-3 and No. 13 Washington at 7-3-2. The broadcast is listed on B1G+. No result from tonight’s match is assumed here.

The case for Seattle U’s attack

The Redhawks’ most recent completed match was a 4-2 win over Saint Mary’s on October 3. Alex Notzka scored a hat trick and subsequently received the West Coast Conference’s offensive player of the week honor. It was his second three-goal game of the season, according to Seattle U’s October 5 announcement.

The same announcement also records his assist on Leo Flores’ hat trick in the preceding 3-3 draw at Pacific. That sequence matters because it gives the attacking conversation more than one focal point. Washington cannot simply acknowledge a leading scorer and assume the rest of the movement around him is unimportant.

What a strong performance requires

Our expectation is that Seattle U should make its attacking threat available without losing the structure needed to keep the match competitive. A talented forward can decide a chance, but the team has to create a way to reach him. That starts with passing options that allow the ball to move forward under pressure.

The first test is support around the initial outlet. If a forward receives with no teammate close enough to combine, an apparently promising pass can become an isolated duel. A second runner or a reliable return option can change that same action into a platform for the next attack. The quality of the connection matters as much as the ambition of the pass.

The second is what happens when an attack ends. This is a matchup in which Seattle U needs to avoid turning every turnover into a long recovery run. Players behind the ball should give the team a chance to delay the opponent, protect central space, and regain a useful shape before the next decisive pass.

The third is resisting the urge to measure the night by one early moment. A goal, a missed opportunity, or a strong opposition spell can alter the emotional temperature of a rivalry quickly. The Redhawks need decisions that remain sound after that temperature changes. Discipline is especially valuable when the match is asking for an immediate response.

What the coach’s assessment tells us

In the university’s October 5 award announcement, head coach Nate Daligcon credits Notzka’s development and his impact on the attack. That is a clear, attributable expression of confidence in the forward’s progress. It should inform expectations without turning a recent scoring run into a promise of another hat trick.

The useful question now is how the team supports that development in a different matchup. A forward can contribute by moving a defender, occupying a passing lane, or creating a second chance even when the final shot belongs to someone else. A productive night does not have to reproduce the same statistical shape as the previous one.

Why tonight matters beyond the rivalry

The schedule continues quickly: Seattle U lists a conference visit to Loyola Marymount on October 17. That makes the Fewing Cup both a local occasion and a demanding step within a larger season. The Redhawks need to pursue the result in front of them while preserving the standards they will require again on the weekend.

Watch how often Seattle U can move from a defensive recovery into an attack with more than one useful option. Watch whether its forwards remain connected when Washington presses. And watch the first response after a setback. Those details will reveal whether the attacking confidence is supported by a durable team performance.

The Redhawks have earned attention through goals and individual progress. Tonight offers a chance to attach that progress to a complete showing against a ranked local opponent. The ambition should be clear: give their best attacking players a game they can influence, then make the rest of the performance strong enough for that influence to count.

Sources

• Seattle University Athletics — Fewing Cup preview, October 13 (checked 2026-10-15)
• Seattle University Athletics — Notzka’s player-of-the-week award and coach reaction, October 5 (checked 2026-10-15)
• Seattle University Athletics — Saint Mary’s recap, October 4 (checked 2026-10-15)
• Seattle University Athletics — Official men’s soccer schedule (checked 2026-10-15)

Analysis and recommendations are the editorial desk’s interpretation. Reporting and attributed perspectives are linked above. Information is current as of the publication date.