SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The final game of the inaugural regular season did not go as planned for the visiting Nighthawks. Taking on the number-one-seeded Griffins, they knew it would be a challenge.
Westminster was coming into this game hot, wielding a five-game win streak including a huge upset win at Colorado Mesa to help secure the number one seed in the RMAC Tournament. The Griffins started hot, scoring just a few minutes into the game but it seemed that NNU was up to the challenge when
Kellen Young netted the equalizer at the 11:20 mark. Both teams would trade possessions for quite some time until Westminster broke through with back-to-back goals with 6:15 and 5:59 remaining in the first. Northwest Nazarene trailed 3-1 before
Colton Altimus brought NNU within one. With 31 seconds left in the first, Luke Sillstrop started a three-goal run for Westminster.
The Nighthawks now trailed 6-2 in the second quarter before
Drew Guerrero scored his only goal of the game.
Hank Riddle followed up Guerrero's goal with one of his own to bring NNU within two. Another Westminster goal with 6:43 left in the first half extended the home lead, 7-4.
Kellen Young added his second of the game to bring it back to a two-goal game but Kaydin Berry put in the eighth goal for the Griffins with just over two minutes left in the half. NNU would head into the break trailing 7-5.
The third quarter was all Westminster as they scored seven straight to extend their lead 15-5.
Colton Altimus scored back-to-back goals to end the Griffins' run and secure his 10th hat trick of the year. Altimus' goal would be the last bit of offense the Nighthawks would see as Westminster finished the game, scoring five goals to take a 20-7 victory and secure the top seed in the RMAC Tournament.
NNU finishes the regular season with a 4-9 overall record and 3-7 in RMAC play. They will look to regroup for the RMAC Tournament where they will face the top seeded Griffins for the second straight week in Salt Lake City, Utah at 4 p.m.
Nighthawk Leaders:
