NAMPA - Opening the match with a goal in the fourth minute, the Northwest Nazarene University women's soccer team shutout Saint Martin's University 3-0 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference soccer match at the NNU soccer field in Nampa.

Just four minutes into play, NNU's Carlee Stinton took a corner across the box and found Marie Smith, who headed the ball into the top right corner for her third goal of the season.

The Crusaders, now 7-5-1 overall and 4-4-0 in GNAC play, would hold that lead into the half as both teams played through torrential rain and wind for most of the first half.

Out of the break the Crusaders would add two additional goals, with Liz Gross scoring in the 56th-minute when she converted a rebound created by another Stinton corner and in the 79th-minute when Kim Bowen would take a deflection off of Saint Martin's keeper Breanna Klasen home for the tally. Stinton earned an assist on Gross's goal, while Bowen's goal was unassisted. It was the second goal of the year for Gross and the third for Bowen.

The Saints (1-13-0 overall, 0-8-0 GNAC) forced NNU goalkeeper Amanda Merrell into five saves, while NNU put 12 shots on goal, with Klasen grabbing nine saves for SMU.

NNU held a 5-2 advantage in corners and a 22-9 lead in shots.

The Crusaders will host Western Oregon University on Saturday at noon in a GNAC counter.