Box Score

LACEY, Wash. — The Crusader men's soccer team was relentless in its pursuit of victory on Thursday, and it turned out they needed to be, too.

Host Saint Martin's twice answered Northwest Nazarene, forcing overtime before the Crusaders netted the decisive goal 15 seconds into the extra session for a 3-2 win in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Thursday.

"I was proud of the guys today," NNU head coach Joel DeLass said. "It's not often a team gives up a lead twice and has the heart and resolve to find a way to win.

"It wasn't always pretty for us today, but the guys battled and never gave up."

After an even, and scoreless, first half, both teams lit up the scoreboard in the second 45-minute session, with Alex Mitrovic giving the Crusaders (4-3-1 overall, 1-1-0 GNAC) a 1-0 lead with 9:47 gone in the half.

The Saints (2-6-0, 1-2-0) didn't take long to responded, though, erasing the first NNU advantage with the first of two Kyle Witzel goals just 6:43 after Mitrovic broke the scoreless tie.

Once again knotted up, NNU pushed the attack and broke the deadlock when Logan Wood scored with 14:18 left on the clock.

But once again the Saints battled back as Witzel's second goal of the day came just 4:12 later, squaring the score at 2-2 with 10:06 left in regulation.

Undaunted by seeing the host Saints score a second equalizer, the Crusaders kept pushing and just 15 seconds into extra time Mitrovic blasted home a pass from Michael Mollay for the resilient game-winner.

Ryan Foo finished with five saves in the victory for the Crusaders, who next play Saturday at Seattle Pacific.