NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene's women's soccer team is turning into the heartbreak ladies.

For the second straight game, the Crusaders had victory within their grasp only to see a heartbreaking, game-tying goal leave NNU with another tie, 1-1 against visiting Western Oregon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Saturday.

"We need to close out games, obviously," said NNU coach Mary Trigg.

It was the second straight 1-1 tie for the Crusaders (1-7-3 overall, 0-5-3 GNAC), who Thursday saw Montana State Billings score with 17 seconds remaining in regulation in a 1-1 draw.

Saturday, a bouncing cross by Western Oregon's Taylor Higa hopped over the NNU defense and snuck inside the right goal-post with 2:56 remaining in regulation, spoiling another potential victory.

"Two 1-0 games with less than three minutes left in both games and we end up tying," Trigg said, "so frustrating because we had it in the last 10 minutes to have two wins this weekend and instead we have two ties.

"It's frustrating, but at the same time we're a different team than we were two weeks ago, and the girls are now fully believing and buying in. … I'm really proud of how we've turned it around and how we're really starting to believe."

Just nine days ago, the Wolves (6-2-4, 4-2-2) topped the Crusaders 4-0 in Independence, Ore.

Saturday in Nampa proved to be much different, as Crusader goalkeeper Argia Phillips made a pair of dazzling diving saves in the opening six minutes to stymie WOU's Makana Pundyke and Melissa Gonzalez.

Phillips, who made 12 saves on the day, added another stunner, diving to stop another Gonzalez shot 6 ½ minutes into the second half.

"Argia, today for us is the best game I've seen her have all year," Trigg said.

Buoyed by Phillips efforts in goal, the Crusaders pushed forward and earned their own scoring chances, finally capitalizing with 9:52 to play when the Wolves were called for a hand-ball in their own goal box.

Awarded a penalty kick, NNU's Kelsey Martin booted the ball under the diving save attempt of WOU goalie Amanda Rose Johnson, giving the Crusaders a 1-0 edge late.

The goal also snapped the Wolves' streak of 496 minutes, 49 seconds without allowing an opposing goal.

"Kelsey came up big for us this weekend and did very, very well for us," Trigg said.

But heartbreak hit with 2:56 left when Higa scored, forcing NNU to settle for another tie as the Crusaders improved to 1-1-3 at home this season.

The Crusaders, who played six of their first nine games this season on the road, next continue their current homestand on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. when they host Seattle Pacific.