Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho — Once again, the Crusaders proved to be a determined foe.

Unfortunately, that determination didn't translate into a win as the Northwest Nazarene women's soccer team played tough against No. 14-ranked Western Washington before falling 2-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Thursday afternoon at Finkbeiner Park on the NNU campus.

"Overall, it makes me excited for our future," NNU head women's soccer coach Mary Trigg said of her team's effort, the Crusaders second 2-0 setback to the unbeaten Vikings this season.
 

And it was closer than the 2-0 final indicated as an NNU misdirected a ball into its own net just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the action, which proved to be the game-winner.

The Vikings added to their lead on another lucky bounce with 21:21 left to play following a corner kick that NNU goalkeeper Daniele Ortiz tried to punch out of harm's way.

Instead, the ball hit the crossbar and Emily Webster headed it in for the 2-0 final.

That was all the Crusaders (4-10-3 overall, 3-9-1 GNAC) allowed to the 14^th-ranked team and three-time GNAC champs — who wrapped up the league title last weekend — as NNU hung tough.

"To give up only one earned goal to a nationally-ranked team is a solid performance," Trigg said. "We had chances and worked hard."

NNU did have chances as they managed five shots in each half, only being outshot by WWU, 16-10.

Ashley Haden made one save in the shutout for the Vikings (14-0-3, 10-0-3), who prevented NNU from scoring the upset.

Ortiz made five saves in goal for the Crusaders, who close out their season on "Senior Saturday" when they host Montana State Billings at noon in the first of three senior-day contests on the NNU campus this Saturday.