MONMOUTH, Ore.—Scoring the eventual game-winner early and adding an insurance goal late, Northwest Nazarene won its third straight match with a 2-0 win over Western Oregon on Thursday afternoon.
With the win, Northwest Nazarene improved to 5-2-0 on the season and 2-0-0 to start the GNAC slate. WOU fell to 1-5-0 overall and 0-2-0 in conference play.
The Crusaders fired off eight shots in each half and found the back of the net on its second attempt with a Mabinty Kanu strike from far on the left side in the 15th minute.
Taking a pass from teammate Anita Maryskova, Kanu drove a swooping ball into the far netting for the 1-0 lead.
The Wolves nearly tied the game in the 25th minute as
Alyssa Tomasini, working in the middle of the pitch fired a high shot that forced a leaping save by NNU goalkeeper Daniele Ortiz. Ortiz punched the ball up and back where it ricocheted off the cross bar and back into the play where the Crusader defense managed to clear the ball.
Notching her third goal of the season, Rikki Myers scored off a corner kick by Madi Thomas in the 81st minute for the final score. The corner was deflected back from the 18-yard box to an awaiting Myers, who launched an 18-yard drive into the left side of the net.
Ortiz made two saves in the win while WOU keeper
Caitlin Kastelic prevented three attempts.
The Wolves will continue its four-match home stand on Saturday by welcoming Montana State Billings. Kick off is set for 11:30 a.m. from THE WOU Soccer field.
