Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho – Coach Coe Michaelson words struck a cord evidently. “My message to the guys before the game was really a simply question, are you guys a spoiler or are you a contender?” Michaelson said.

Coming off a tie with No. 2-ranked Seattle Pacific on Thursday and a win over then-No. 12 Simon Fraser last weekend, the Northwest Nazarene men proved they are more than a spoiler, rolling past St. Martin's 3-0 in GNAC soccer on the NNU campus.

The victory keeps the Crusaders (3-2-3, 2-0-2 GNAC) in a tie for first place in the league standings.

“I think it's just a testament to their character that they came out - took us a while to get there but ultimately we were playing at the same level we were those previous games,” Michaelson said.

Early, Crusader keeper Alfredo Ontiveros blocked a pair of chances by the Saints (2-6, 1-3) as NNU slowly built momentum.
With 18 minutes, 13 seconds left until halftime, Dylan Coffee completely swung momentum to the Crusaders, taking a pass from Chris Voth, moving toward the middle of the field, spinning, then blasting a shot from 25 yards inside the left post.

“Up until that goal we weren't playing real well and so when Dylan hit that goal, goals have a way of settling you down a bit,” Michaelson said. “We pretty much were in control from there.”

But NNU needed one big save from Ontiveros (3 saves) before icing the win.

Sixteen minutes into the second half, the Saints' Blake Moreland fired from 20 yards out and Ontiveros dove to his left for the save of the game.

“He's a special player,” Michaelson said. “It's not every day you have the junior college national player of the year playing for you.”
Ontiveros' teammates paid him off for his big save immediately with a counter attack that saw John DiLulo bang a shot off the left goal post, but right to Jaime Torres who booted home the rebound with 28:15 left to play.

DiLulo then added a goal with 12:36 remaining for the Crusaders, who dominated by outshooting the Saints 22-5.

The Crusaders now go to 3-2-3 overall and 2-0-2 in GNAC action. NNU will be on the road next week as they travel to Bismark, North Dakota to take on University of Mary.