Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - The Crusaders proved they can play with the best in their league, but did Saturday's outcome cost Northwest Nazarene a chance to prove that in the playoffs?
 
A garbage goal late in the first half left the NNU women's soccer team playing catch-up, and despite an playing the equal of GNAC-leading Western Washington on the field, the Crusaders took a 2-0 loss in league play to the Vikings.
 
“Really proud of our girls today, I thought they played really well and did what I wanted them to do,” NNU coach Jamie Lindvall said.
 
“You always want to win, you always want to get a result, but I am proud of our girls effort today,” he added. “ I thought we were a really good opponent today the way we played.”
 
Neither team mustered a real threat in the opening half, but with 9 minutes, 12 seconds left before halftime, Anna Geldenhuys cross from the right corner found Viking teammate Joana Houplin on the right post.
 
Houplin got tangled up with NNU keeper Tanya Zickefoose, and during the small scrum, the ball deflected into the goal of Houplin for the 1-0 lead.
 
“That's the reality of the game sometimes,” Lindvall said. “I didn't even see it, I just saw the ball trickle in. It was in all honesty an accident, but that's the game sometimes.”
 
NNU (7-9, 4-8 GNAC) turned up their intensity in the second half, but couldn't final an answer, with No. 25 WWU (14-2, 11-1) icing the win as Brina Sych headed home a corner kick by Stephanie Hamilton with 13:23 left in the game. 
 
“Second half I thought we did a much better job pressuring, kept our shape a lot better, our passes were far better, we just couldn't get that final ball and finish touch,” Lindvall said.
 
Zickefoose finished with six saves in goal for NNU, while Amie Arthurs made three saves for the Vikings, who outshot the Crusaders 12-7.