Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – Michael Mollay dove, slid and redirected the ball just past the reach of Dominican goalkeeper Erik Anderson, setting off a celebration on the Crusader bench and amongst the Northwest Nazarene fans.

Mollay's goal with 6 minutes, 27 seconds remaining helped the Crusader men's soccer team overcome a squander 2-0 lead and prevail 3-2 over the Penguins on Friday night in nonconference action on the NNU campus.
 

Fredy Razo celebrates withJulio Castillo, Yannick Petzschkeand Einar Jenssen" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=14&image_path=/images/2014/9/12/_MG_8567.JPG" />

"I thought we were the best we have been all year for 20 minutes," NNU head soccer coach Coe Michaelson said. "With that said, we obviously need to be better starting second halves. We were poor again and it almost cost us."

The Crusaders (2-1-0 overall) erupted for a pair of goals in the first 19:02 of the contest as star forward Fredy Razo – playing his first game of the season – booted home a pass from NNU's Erik Anderson in the 15^th minute of action, a shot that Anderson dove and got a hand on but couldn't prevent from trickling into the goal.

NNU's Anderson then made it 2-0 less than 5 minutes later, finishing off a pass from Razo for a commanding 2-0 lead.

From there, the Penguins (0-3-1) began pushing forward, threatening the NNU advantage and finally getting on the board 3:23 into the second half when Martin Gonzalez scored.

Just 3:24 later, Lee LeVerrier beat NNU goalkeeper Alfredo E. Ontiveros, tying the game 2-2.

That provided a wake-up call for the Crusaders, and they answered it with wave after wave of offensive chances that Mollay finally cashed in on in the 84^th minute.

Jaime Verdin set up the play with a long ball up the left to Razo, who centered it to the Crusaders' Anderson who sent a cross through the goal-box that Mollay slide and redirect into the net.

"Credit to the guys for responding," said Michaelson, who also felt good about the play of Steven Garcia and Ian Ward who came off the bench in a very physical game that saw three NNU players sidelined due to minor injuries.

Ontiveros made two saves in the victory for the Crusaders, who next play at Dixie State on Tuesday.