Eagles Break Out With Shutout Over Beacons
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Led by freshman Alex Taylor’s two goals, the Northwest University men broke out of their scoring slump in a big way as they shut out Northwest Christian 5-0 in Cascade Conference play this afternoon on the NU Athletic Field.
Playing under blue sky and sunny fall weather, the Eagles got in the scoring column early on Scott Graff’s (Soph., Shoreline, Wash.) goal (13:45) as the ball came off the NCU keeper, three yards out. NU’s Alex Taylor (Fresh., Mill Creek, Wash.) put one past the Northwest Christian goalie with his penalty kick. Northwest’s senior midfielder, Matt Walton (Tacoma, Wash.) capped the first half scoring with his goal from 15 yards out off an assist from teammate Kyle Tatro (Soph., Issaquah, Wash.). NU managed 12 shots in the first half to NCU’s 3.
Taylor put Northwest U. (4-5-2, 2-5-0 CCC) on the scoreboard just 59 seconds into the second half with his goal off deflection from NCU goalkeeper, Stephen Melgar. Luke Fischer (Soph., Kalispell, Mont.) got the first of his two assists on the goal. James Kerr (Soph., Bothell, Wash.) finished the scoring on the day with his 10 yard shot from the left side with Fischer getting his second assist for the day.
Northwest Christian (1-9-1, 0-6-1 CCC) stepped up the play in the second half and out shot the Eagles, 12-7 as NU goalie, Brian Swanson (Sr., Everett, Wash.) had 5 saves for the game, four coming in the second half. Northwest Christian goalkeeper, junior Stephen Melgar (Pleasant Hill, Ore.) earned 9 saves for the Beacons. Denton Brown (Jr., Eugene, Ore.) had 7 of NCU’s 15 shots.
“It was good to see the ball going into the back of the goal net today,” commented Eagle Head Coach Gary McIntosh. “I give our guys a lot of credit as they have not quit and kept on battling, so it’s nice to see them rewarded for all their hard work. There’s still a lot more soccer to be played," McIntosh concluded.
The Eagles will remain at home and will host Concordia U. on Wednesday, October 14 at 3:00 p.m. on the Eagles’ campus field.