Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho — The Crusaders put the ball — and their national tournament hopes — on the foot of one of the most prolific scorers in team history.

Fredy Razo didn't disappoint.

Razo booted home the lone goal of the game for the Northwest Nazarene men's soccer team Thursday afternoon at Finkbeiner Park on the NNU campus, lifting the Crusaders to a 1-0 upset of No. 2-ranked Seattle Pacific in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

"While they are a great team, this is not our end goal," said NNU head men's soccer coach Coe Michaelson, whose team looks almost assured of an NCAA Division II National Tournament berth thanks to Thursday's win. "As we've said all year, the most important game is the next one."

Next up for the Crusaders is "Senior Saturday" as three NNU teams will play their final regular-season home contest, with the men's soccer team hosting St. Martin's at 3 p.m.

Thursday's focus was all about the Falcons, though, a huge game on the road to nationals as NNU entered the contest No. 5 in the NCAA West Region poll and SPU was ranked No. 2 in the West. The top six teams in the West Region poll earn berths to nationals at the end of the season.

The Crusaders (12-3-1 overall, 9-2-1 GNAC) tested SPU early and often, setting the tone for the game.

NNU's offensive pressure eventually led to a hand-ball call in the goal box against the Falcons (14-1-1, 11-1-0).

Razo took the ensuing penalty kick and blasted a shot low to toward the left post.

SPU goalkeeper Cody Lang guessed correctly, dove toward the ball and partially blocked it, but the momentum of Razo's shot carried the ball across the goal line to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead with 25 minutes, 4 seconds gone in the game.

"I thought that we started the game really well today and took the game to them," Michaelson said. "Our halftime lead was well deserved."

That one-goal lead was all NNU needed.

Despite being outshot 15-8 — as the Falcons made a determined effort to tie the game in the second half but failed — the Crusader held on to the win.

Alfredo E. Ontiveros made four saves in goal to wrap up his eighth shutout of the season, and got some help from his friends.

None bigger than the play by Steven Garcia seven minutes into the second half as Garcia stopped SPU's Jordan Thompson, who had an open net to shoot at until Garcia denied him.

"Second half, honestly, was just about our grit and commitment to win," Michaelson said. "We suffered some injuries that really hurt our ability to keep the ball in midfield, but ultimately we held strong."

Now the Crusader, who have two games remaining, only need to finish the season strong then await their national tournament fate, which will be revealed during the NCAA Division II National Tournament Show on Monday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m.

Check the www.nnusports.com website for more about the men's soccer selection show viewing party at the Johnson Sports Center.