Boxscore

BILLINGS, Mont. - Renatto Brito's blast inside the far post with 47-seconds to play lifted the Northwest Nazarene University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the University of Mary on Tuesday afternoon in Billings.  The neutral-site NCAA D.II match, hosted by MSU Billings at Yellowjacket Field, featured the Crusaders from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Marauders from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

 

Brito contolled an assist by Kyle Gaedke on the left side in the 89th-minute, beat two Mary defenders and sent the game winner inside the far post as UM goalkeeper Derek Luptak came on to challenge.  "They are a tough, physical team, and it was a good show of character to come out on top," commented NNU head coach Coe Michaelson.  "We got what we deserved."

 

The Crusaders (4-6-1) opened the scoring in the 18th-minute when Alex Mangeac scored his sixth goal of the season, beating one defender off an Alonso Avila assist through the middle, and finishing with a right-footed shot inside the far post.  Mangeac leads the Crusaders in scoring and now ranks second in the GNAC in goals scored.

 

Coach Michaelson's team expected to take the 1-0 lead to the break, however, Mary's leading scorer Nikola Nikolic evened the score at 43:09, converting an assist from Matt Binegar just before the half.  It was Nikolic's team-leading 10th goal of the season.

 

"It was deflating to be tied at the half," Michaelson added.  "We played a solid opening half, especially with the conditions being so cold and windy.  However, credit the players character to come out in the second half, control the play, and finish at the end."  Weather conditions included temperatures in the low-40's with 20 to 25 mph winds.

 

Originally scheduled for Monday, the match was delayed one day due to snow in Billings.  The Crusaders will stay in Montana and face Rocky Mountain College tomorrow at 10 a.m. in their final non-conference game of the season.