NAMPA, Idaho – The Northwest Nazarene women's team was missing two starters, a key sub and was playing its first game without four graduated starters from last year.

No worries, though.

The Nighthawks simply utilized the next woman up principle.

Two freshmen scored and another played a strong defensive game as the Nighthawks defeated College of Idaho 3-0 on Saturday in an exhibition contest at NNU Field.

"It shows how good of a group of girls we have this year," NNU junior Jade Zimmer said. "I feel really confident about the girls on the bench and anyone who is coming in to play. There is definitely a really high level of play this year and there is no drop off between the players."

NNU was missing starters Corinnah Schaefer and Maddy Parton as well as Ashley Parton.

But a host of newcomers made big plays throughout as the Nighthawks earned the clean sheet.

Freshmen Hailey Hockett and Denali Knowles both scored goals and sophomore Sierra Sanchez, who missed most of last season with a hamstring injury scored the other goal. New goalie Alexis Montoya made five saves and defender Makayla Roggow played big minutes in the shutout.

"The freshmen were amazing," Sanchez said. "This season is going to be great because of the grit and the talent that we have on this team."

After a scoreless first half with very few opportunities, the Nighthawks dominated the second 45 minutes.

Junior forward Rikki Myers helped kick off the scoring by outhustling a defender and eventually crossing a perfect pass across the mouth of the goal to the waiting Sanchez for the easy tap-in for a 1-0 lead in the 55th minutes.

Sanchez then set up Hockett's goal in the 61st, while Knowles scored the final gal in the 89th.

"I thought assistant coach John Hawks said it well, to win 3-0 and keep a clean sheet and still have tons to work on is a good thing," NNU head coach Mary Trigg said. "I thought it was good to get some goals in and we got everyone who is healthy into the game.

"This gives confidence to our keeper, to our backline, to our freshmen. It is huge to start off with a clean sheet and for our keeper to come up with some big saves."

NNU is back in action at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 hosting Northwest University in another exhibition match.