Women's Soccer | 10/29/2009 5:21:48 PM

Box Score [Box score]

NAMPA, Idaho - The Wolves' soccer team seems to have a flare for the dramatic against Northwest Nazarene as junior forward Rachelle Kliewer knocked in the only goal of the match in the 79th minute to give Western Oregon the 1-0 victory, Thursday (Oct. 29th).

This was the second one-goal victory of the season for the Wolves (5-10-3, 3-7-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) over NNU and its first one-goal road win. The loss kept the Crusaders at the bottom of the conference with a 1-8-0 record and a 3-10-3 mark overall.

Just as earlier in the season, it was a junior which delivered the game-winning goal against NNU. After Kristen Sagami's pass went to Kliewer in the box, she found daylight to get her shot off and fired it inside the far post from 10 yards out, for her eighth goal of the season.

"It was a game of grit and determination, and in the end we persevered with great effort, earning a tough win against a very hard working NNU team," said Western Oregon head coach Rod Fretz. "Rachelle Kliewer had a strong game, creating many scoring opportunities for herself and her team, with four shots, three on goal, including the game winner."

Wolves' goal keeper Brittney Rigtrup would make the score stand as she made seven saves for her second shutout of the season. This was also the second victory of the season for Rigtrup over the Crusaders, as she was the goalie when Jill Peterson gave the Wolves' the win in double overtime on Sept. 26th.

The match was well-played in the first half but neither team found the net. After the half both sides picked up the intensity with seven fouls apiece. The teams also began to look for their shot more often as WOU notched eight shots and NNU nine but only Kliewer's found the goal.

"We were able to create much more attack as a team than we have for a while in a very cold, wet and snowy environment," Fretz continued. "Naomi Shimabuku and Monique Thees played extremely well in the defense, shutting down several NNU scoring chances."

The Crusaders received a strong goaltending effort from Tanya Zickefoose with seven saves and just the one goal allowed while Stacey Beckman had a match-best five shots.

The Western Oregon University soccer team will continue its road trip as it goes to Billings, Mont., for a meeting with the Yellowjackets Saturday (Oct. 31), at 12:30 p.m.