Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - Tyler Bjork headed home an Oscar Jimenez cross for the winning goal in the 107th minute as Western Washington University defeated Northwest Nazarene University 4-3 in double-overtime on Saturday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at the NNU Soccer Field.

 

The win moved the Vikings to 5-8-0 overall and 2-3-0 in GNAC play, while the Crusaders fell to 5-8-1 overall and 0-4-1 in GNAC matches.

 

"Today was an especially tough loss," commented NNU head coach Coe Michaelson.  "We are playing without four starters due to injury and had a goalkeeper playing up front, so to even be in the overtime speaks of a great effort.  We have had four overtime conference games now, so we need to grow from this and finish one off.  We also need to get some players healthy and back on the field."

 

WWU opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Brendan Quilici converted his own rebound for his second goal of the season.

 

The Crusaders answered just three minutes later when Sal Sanchez nodded home a Brock Ogami cross from the right corner.  NNU would then take the lead in the 40th minute on a Nate Hamm chip that settled inside the near post.  Alex Mangeac earned an assist on Hamm's second goal of the season.

 

Kellan Brown evened the score at 2-2 just before the break, converting a header in the 44th minute off the foot of Jimenez. 

 

Jimenez would then join the scoring in the 74th minute, sending a low shot inside the left post that beat a diving NNU goalkeeper Cesar Lira.  Jimenez was the recipient of assists by both Quilici and Kenny Parker on the tally, as both played one-touch passes into Jimenez.

 

Ben Mangeac forced the overtime for the Crusaders in the 85th minute, chipping home a ball from 18-yards out past WWU keeper Cameron Copps-Tilley.  John Stump fed Mangeac a nice one-touch cross after the ball was sent forward by Weston Patrick.

 

The Vikings held a 22-14 shot advantage and the teams each took seven corner kicks.

 

The Crusaders will next face Montana State Billings on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in a GNAC counter.