NAMPA, Idaho - Alex Mangeac sent home the game-winning goal in the 87th-minute to lift the Northwest Nazarene University men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over Montana State Billings on Friday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at the NNU Soccer Field.

 

Mangeac, who also scored NNU's second goal in the 50th-minute, took a ball flicked forward by brother Ben Mangeac and finished inside the right post past MSUB keeper Michael Sheridan.  NNU goalkeeper Alexander Engemann earned an assist on the play, as Ben Mangeac flicked forward his punt.

 

The Crusaders improve to 9-3-2 overall and 2-3-1 in league play, while MSUB falls to 9-5-0 overall and 2-2-0 in league matches.  Both of MSUB's league losses have come at the hands of the Crusaders.

 

"The bottom line today was to get the win," commented NNU head coach Coe Michaelson.  "Once we got the lead, we started playing to protect it and we gave away some set pieces, one of which they scored on.  I felt that we showed good character in a bit of a wild game and once we settled down we were able to create the opportunity for the win." 

 

NNU opened the scoring in the 26th-minute when Kyle Gaedke scored his first goal of the season, finishing a one-touch pass from Alex Mangeac that came after a Christian Adamson shot hit the near post.  Gaedke's shot found the upper right side of the goal, beating MSUB starting goalkeeper Matt Mitchell.  Mitchell was injured while sliding out to collect a ball in the 64th-minute and was replaced by Sheridan.

 

The 'Jackets answered just over two-minutes later when Sam Charles sent a 25-yard bending shot around the right side of the defenders on a direct kick, with the play started with touches by both Chris Andre and Scott Dixon. 

 

The teams would take a 1-1 tie to the half, however just before time expired MSUB's Jeremy DeHerrara was given a red-card for a penalty following a Crusader corner kick.  Before the teams left the field, MSUB head coach Dan McNally was also issued a red-card for unsportsmanlike conduct.

 

Playing with a one-man advantage, the Crusaders applied immediate pressure and a hand-ball in the box provided NNU a penalty kick in the 50th-minute, converted by Alex Mangeac for his first goal of the day and his eighth of the season.

 

MSUB would answer in the 75th-minute when Justin Hoskins collected a ball headed out of the box by NNU's Jose Oregon, knotting the score a 2-2.  Oregon attempted to clear a crossing pass and Hoskins settled the ball and sent a quick shot past NNU's Engemann inside the far post.

 

A physical game that saw 39 fouls called, the Crusaders out-shot the 'Jackets 21-8 and had a 7-5 shots on goal advantage.  NNU also held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks.

 

Engemann hustled for two saves, while Mitchell stopped four before leaving the match.

 

The Crusaders will host Seattle Pacific University on Monday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. MST, while MSUB will travel to Bellingham and face Western Washington University on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. PST.

 

 

Soccer Game Summary (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook For Soccer
MSU Billings vs Northwest Nazarene (Oct 17, 2008 at Nampa,Idaho)

MSU Billings (2-2-0 GNAC, 9-5-0) vs. Northwest Nazarene (2-3-1 GNAC, 9-3-2)
Date: Oct 17, 2008  Attendance: 106
Weather: Sunny, low-70's

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
MSU Billings........  1  1 -  2
Northwest Nazarene..  1  2 -  3

SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  26:03 NNU Gaedke,Kyle (1) (Adamson,Christian;Mangeac,Alex) - 18 collects rebound off defender, touche
  2.  28:22 MSUB Charles,Sam (17) (Andre,Chris;Dixon,Scott) - Bending shot around right side of defens
  3.  50:36 NNU Mangeac,Alex (8) Penalty kick - Hand ball by MSUB in the box
  4.  75:40 MSUB Hoskins,Justin (3) (unassisted) - Ball headed out of goal by NNU #4, shot
  5.  87:51 NNU Mangeac,Alex (9) (Engemann,Alexander;Mangeac,Ben) - Ball played from keeper, flicked forward

Shots: MSU Billings 8, Northwest Nazarene 21
Saves: MSU Billings 4 (Mitchell,Matt 4), Northwest Nazarene 3
(Engemann,Alexander 2; TEAM 1)
MSUB coach and #6 given Red Cards following play in the
first half.  #6 due to foul committed during the play, Coach
for unsportsmanlike conduct