NNU Spoils C of I Season Opener, 4-3
NAMPA, Idaho -- Jose Oregon headed home an Alex Mangeac cross in the first minute of overtime, as the Northwest Nazarene men's soccer team made a triumphant return to intercollegiate play with a 4-3 victory over The College of Idaho.
The Crusaders (1-0), who disbanded their team following the 2002 season, rallied in the final two minutes of regulation to tie the game - as Mangeac bent a free kick from 25-yards out around the Coyote wall and into the right corner of the net.
The Yotes (0-1), who lost for the first time against their Canyon County rivals in ten years, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, getting an Emir Kobic goal off a nice combination from Kazuki Murata and Antonio Bautista in the 30th minute, with Bautista feeding Murata for a goal in the 35th minute to give the visitors a two-goal advantage.
However, The C of I ran out of gas in the final three minutes of the period, as Oregon flicked home a goal in the 43rd minute, followed by a Theron Fereday goal off a deflection a minute later to tie the score. The Coyotes took a 3-2 advantage early in the second half on a Garga Caserta unassisted goal, setting up the NNU heroics.
Though corner kicks were even at 4-4, NNU had a commanding 22-12 edge in shots.
Both team return to action this weekend against the University of Great Falls - NNU playing at home on Saturday, with the Coyotes hosting UGF at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Symms Field.