ATHERTON, Calif. - The Northwest Nazarene men's soccer team earned their first win of the season with a 1-0 decision over Menlo College.
The Nighthawks entered the final game of their four-game road stretch itching for a win after three straight draws to start the season. NNU instantly found itself under pressure as Manuel Portillo found an opportunity with a shot on goal that tested
Elijah Brockl early, forcing him to make a save to his right.
The Oaks had another chance a few minutes later as Tim Schwarz took a shot that made Brockl stretch to his right for the save. Menlo controlled much of the first five minutes, firing two shots on goal but had nothing to show for it. NNU created two chances of their own in the 18th and 23rd minutes off of shots from
Caleb Putney and
Abdullahi Sharif but missed the mark on both.
Elijah Grimaldo found space to take a shot in the 39th minute but missed.
Despite multiple opportunities by both sides, the game would be scoreless at half.
Menlo's Manuel Portillo took the first shot of the second-half 10 minutes in, followed by a Janne Spangenberg shot that was saved by Brockl.
The Nighthawks broke through in the 65th minute after
Abdullahi Sharif put a shot on frame that was saved off the line by Jaxon Tonley. Despite Tonley's efforts,
Elijah Grimaldo found the loose ball and put in the back of the net to go up 1-0. Grimaldo scored his first career goal, and Sharif earned the assist.
Menlo kept up the pressure, trying ot get an equalizer, but a red card in the 81st minute put the Oaks in a difficult situation. With Menlo down a man, the Nighthawks were able to hold on for their first win of the season.
NNU improves to 1-0-3 overall and will look forward to hosting (RV) Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa in Nampa on Sept. 10 and 12.
By the numbers
- NNU took seven shots, two on goal
- Menlo took 16 shots, five on goal
- Elijah Grimaldo scored the first goal of his career
- This was NNU's first shutout of the season
- Elijah Brockl secured a career high five saves and his first career shutout
- Abdullahi Sharif earned his first assist this season, second of his career.
