BILLINGS, Mont. – Northwest Nazarene men's soccer showed incredible resiliency on Saturday, scoring twice in the final six minutes to come from behind and defeat Montana State Billings 2-1 in a crucial road match.
How It Happened
- Neither team found the net in the opening half, with MSUB taking six shots and NNU managing just two attempts.
- It would be the Yellowjackets who got on the board first, as the GNAC's leading scorer Halil Yilmaz connected in the 62nd minute.
- NNU finally put one across the line in the 85th, when Jimmy Koufidakis evened the score at one when he was able to put in a loose ball in the middle of the box.
- Just four minutes later, on NNU's next shot attempt, Nils Knosala tallied the game winner, sending in a low curling shot that snuck just inside the near post.
- NNU then held off MSUB in the final 90 seconds, keeping them from attempting an equalizing shot.
Quotable
"I'm extremely proud of the resilience of the team," said head coach
John Powell. "Heads never went down and they kept playing and ultimately outlasted them. I think the players that entered the match off the bench brought energy and quality and helped drive us. This road trip was extremely difficult and to come back to Nampa with 3 points is great."
Nighthawks Notes
- NNU is now 3-1 in GNAC play, second in the GNAC standings only to undefeated Seattle Pacific.
- Koufidakis finally found paydirt for his first goal of the season while leading the team with three assists.
- Knosala is now tied for the team lead with three goals on the year, matching Juodkunaitis.
- NNU made all of their shots count, attempting just six, with four going on frame and two getting past the MSUB keeper.
- Sawyer Price made five saves over the 90 minutes, earning his 11th career win.
Up Next
The Nighthawks return home next weekend, hosting Saint Martin's at NNU Field on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
