Matt Kelly logged the lone goal for the Coyotes
CALDWELL, Idaho - Benjamin Mangeac scored a pretty goal ten minutes into the second half and the Northwest Nazarene defense made it stand up, as the Crusaders completed a series sweep of The College of Idaho, winning 2-1 this afternoon at Simplot Stadium.
Alex Mangeac opened the scoring just six minutes into the match, blasting a 35-yard strike over the head of C of I keeper Trevor Spielman for the 1-0 lead. The Yotes (4-7) would counter, as Matt Kelly slotted home a finish in the 38th minute off a Parker Waddell feed to tie the score at the break.
Each team had chances to add to their total in the opening 45 minutes, as Sal Sanchez launched a shot off the crossbar for the Crusaders (6-4) in the 19th minute, with a Brian Buckingham header off a corner kick in the 22nd minute banging off the right post for the Yotes.
In the 55th minute, NNU got the winner, as Jose Oregon played a low cross from the left side across the goal mouth, finding the foot of Mangeac for the game-winner.
The Coyotes, who have lost four in a row overall, had their best chance for an equalizer in the 62nd minute as a Drew Smith header was saved by a diving Mitchell Rice. NNU had opportunities to extend the lead as a Sanchez drive in the 74th minute was redirected by C of I keeper Colin Benham-Marin, Brock Ogami’s sitter with a wide-open goal in the 86th minute went high, and an Alex Mangeac 1-on-1 attempt with Benham-Marin missed high in the 87th minute.
NNU had a 20-10 edge in shots and has now won all four meetings between the teams since the Crusaders reinstated the program in 2008.
The C of I returns to action this weekend with matches at Evergreen State and Northwest.