Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho — Hard work finally paid off Monday for the Crusaders in a very big way.

After settling for back-to-back draws that saw the Northwest Nazarene women's soccer team play hard but unable to finish off goals, it all came together for NNU which exploded offensively in a 4-2 nonconference win over Dominican (Calif.) at Finbeiner Park on the NNU campus.

"It feels really good," said NNU head women's soccer coach Mary Trigg.

"It felt good because it's been a couple games of creating so many chances and not finishing them.

"But we're creating chances, so I just felt we needed that breakthrough, and we finally got it today."
 

The four-goal explosion was the most for NNU (1-1-2 overall) in the Trigg era, and sends the Crusaders into Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this coming weekend with confidence and momentum.

Senior Sarah Blum ignited the offensive explosion when she took a long through-ball from Laura Seymour, split the defense and beat Dominican goalkeeper Ashley Lentz 1-on-1 with 18:57 gone in the game.

Dominican responded with the first of two goals in the game by Megan Hanson, but the Crusader offense never let up.

Just 32 seconds after Hanson tied it, Lacey Strickler struck with the game-winner, heading home a cross from teammate Lexi Fesenbek.

"We're creating and finishing what we're creating, which is good," said Trigg.

Fesenbek created plenty of chances for her teammates as she had three assists in the win, setting up Strickler's goal, then two in the second half by Seymour.

Seymour headed home a cross from Fesenbek in the 51^st minute, making it 3-1, then the junior-college transfer headed home her second of the game off a Fesenbek corner kick in the 69^th minute for a commanding 4-1 lead.

Hanson closed the gap with her second goal in the 78^th minute, but it was too little, too late against the sudden offensive juggernaut Crusaders.

"Our girls feel a bit of relief because they've been working so hard, and to get that reward with a result is huge for us," said Trigg. "So we're going into conference feeling confident."

Going to Saint Martin's for their GNAC opener Thursday, then to Western Oregon on Saturday.

NNU freshman keeper Daniele Ortiz made two saves in the win, earning her first collegiate victory.