NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene men's soccer and Saint Martin's played a match for the ages on Saturday, but it was the Nighthawks coming out on the short end with a 5-4 loss to the Saints in double overtime.
How It Happened
- Saint Martin's got on the board first with a stunner from Cole Mattson in the third minute, sending a knuckling ball just under the crossbar from outside the box.
- NNU bounced back with two goals, first from Sullivan Smith in the 16th minute and then Sebastian Cotrau in the 44th.
- SMU tied it back up less than a minute later, however, as a Caden Martin header found the back of the net with just 27 seconds left in the opening half.
- It took fifteen minutes into the second half for the next goal, as Jimmy Koufidakis hammered home a score in the 61st minute to put NNU up 3-1.
- The Saints rallied back, as Brian Licona curled in a free kick from outside the box in the 71st minute to tie it before Diego Andrade slipped a ball past the near post in the 89th to give SMU the lead.
- NNU did not quit, putting through the equalizer with just 18 seconds remaining as Brandon Parsio sent a long ball to the top of the box that was headed sideways by Koufidakis to the foot of Lukas Juodkunaitis, who wasted no time in blasting a rocket past the keeper to send the match to extra time.
- However, it would be the Saints who found the golden goal in the second overtime period, as Jason Fairhurst was able to get a toe on a loose ball in the box and send it across the goal line for the win.
Nighthawks Notes
- Juodkunaitis and Cotrau are now tied for the team lead with four goals apiece, while Juodkunaitis holds the advantage in points with one assist to his credit.
- Koufidakis picked up his second goal and fourth assist of the season, while Brandon Parsio also notched his fourth assist of the year to put him in a tie with Koufidakis for the team lead.
- Smith's goal was the second of his young career, while Jonathan Cardona notched his second assist in a Nighthawk uniform.
- NNU outshot SMU 24-16 in the match, including 9-7 on goal, and outpaced the Saints 12-3 in corner kicks.
- NNU moves to 6-5-0 on the year and 3-2-0 in GNAC play.
Up Next
NNU will have a week off next week before hitting the road the following week, visiting Simon Fraser on Oct. 28 and Western Washington on Oct. 30.
