PHOENIX, Ariz. - Northwest Nazarene men's soccer made the right adjustments in their second exhibition match at Division I Grand Canyon, taking a 2-1 victory over the Lopes with a late goal in the 88th minute.

The win came two nights after the Nighthawks fell to GCU 5-1. 

The score was knotted at 0-0 at halftime, but NNU was hanging right with GCU as the Lopes held just a 9-8 advantage in shots in the opening frame. Grand Canyon would get on the board first, however, as Justin Rasmussen found the net in the 54th minute to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

It would not take long, though, for the Nighthawks to counter, as Jimmy Koufidakis found the equalizer 11 minutes later off a feed from Brandon Parsio. Neither team was able to put a shot on frame over the next 20+ minutes, but the Nighthawks would not settle for the tie.

Freshman forward Nils Knosala played the hero on Saturday night, tallying the game-winner in the 88th minute to give NNU the 2-1 victory.

Koufidakis and Knosala each scored on their only shot attempts of the evening, while Jake Levine led the Nighthawks with three shots (one on frame). Parsio and Lorenzo Valentini both tallied two shots apiece as well. Sawyer Price played all 90 minutes in goal, making one save.

After a scrimmage and two exhibitions on the road against Division I opponents to open the year, NNU will now return to Nampa for their home opener on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 3:00 p.m. against College of Idaho.