Box Score
LACEY, Wash. – The Crusaders finally got a results coach Coe Michaelson could smile about.
After several hard-fought games without a win, the Northwest Nazarene men battled back from an early 1-0 deficit to scored a 2-1 victory at Saint Martin's in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon.
"With some of our performances to this point I can't believe it took this long for the win to come, but I'm glad it finally has," said Michaelson.
"Today's game required fight and spirit, and fortunately we had enough warriors on the field to get it done."
The Crusaders (1-3-3 overall, 1-2-1 GNAC) fought back from a 1-0 deficit as CJ Chu scored off a corner kick in the 13th minute, putting the home-standing Saints (3-5, 3-1) in front.
NNU responded as Jaime Torres scored his first goal of the year from the top-right side of the goal box, blasting home an assist from Dylan Coffee with 15:48 left in the first half.
Then it was Freddy Razo time, once again, as Razo scored his sixth of the season, unassisted, on a ball mishandled by Saints' goalkeeper Eric Owen with 7:09 left in the opening half.
Ryan Foo made two save in goal to make the 2-1 lead hold up, lifting the Crusaders to their first win of the season.
Now NNU returns home to host the University of Mary (N.D.) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., and South Dakota School of Mines on Saturday at 3 p.m.
"Now we come home and look to get a run of wins," said Michaelson.
