LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Northwest Nazarene men's soccer team found itself in a two-goal hole Saturday and appeared to be headed to another shutout loss.
Instead, the Nighthawks scored three times in the final 21 minutes to earn a 3-2 win against Biola.

"Credit to the boys, they picked up their heads and they really grew as competitors today," NNU coach Adam Pearce said. "Yes, we got the result and that is fantastic, but it is really about guys being resilient and coming together.

"They made a choice to come together and compete and not give up on this game."

Biola scored two goals in 24 seconds to take a 2-0 lead in the 61st. The Eagles scored the first on a rebound and the second happened after the NNU kickoff got away and then pinballed around and when goalie Alex Nadermann went to kick it clear, the ball bounced into the back of the net.

A hydration break soon after helped the Nighthawks regroup a bit and set the stage for the comeback.

Junior Aoci Watambela scored on an assist by Brandon Parsio in the 70th to pull one back and freshman Lorenzo Valentini scored on a penalty kick to tie the game in the 74th.

Junior Garrison Lee then scored the game-winner over a leaping goalkeeper in the 88th minute.

"When guys came off the bench the level raised and there was no dropoff," Pearce said. "I'm really proud of who they were today and I hope that is who we are becoming permanently."

Nadermann made eight saves in goal to help give Pearce his first victory at NNU.

The Nighthawks (1-1) lost 4-0 to Cal State Los Angeles on Thursday. NNU is back in action at 12 p.m. against visiting Colorado Mesa.