NU's Drew Jensen scored the game winner for the Eagles.
NU Eagles Open Season With Win Over TLC
EVERETT, Wash. - The Northwest University Eagles kicked off their season with a 2-1 victory over Trinity Lutheran College tonight on Everett's Lincoln Field in a hard fought, non-conference contest.
In cool temperatures and a steady rain, the Eagles' first score came off a TLC miscue as they deflected a shot into their goal to give NU a 1-0 lead 22 minutes into the game. After a slow start, the Eagles caught fire and came back just five minutes later as Drew Jensen knocked one past the goalkeeper from 25 yards out on a free kick from the left side.
The second half would see Trinity Lutheran go on the attack late with 14 shots to NU's 3 and their goal would come at the 75th minute as TLC's Sergio Martinez would put one past the NU goalkeeper from the left side, 7 yards out and after a flurry of shots and a deflection off the goal post. TLC would continue to attack, but the NU would hold them off with gritty defense for the victory.
NU's 6-4 freshman goalkeeper, Joe Galbraith would hold off shot after shot and finished with 8 saves on the night. Galbraith got the win and held off 19 TLC shots.
It was a physical battle the entire game with 27 fouls called on the teams. Trinity Lutheran, a first year program, has 17 juniors, one sophomore and six freshmen on their roster.
"It is always nice to get a win in your first game," stated Eagle coach Gary McIntosh following the game. "We started out playing slow and unorganized but once we settled down our rhythm of play really improved. Trinity did a good job of coming at us offensively and it took a bit of time to settle in." McIntosh continued, "Once we scored we really started to play well and we controlled the rest of the first half. Drew (Jensen) got us the second goal which proved to be the game winner an important goal. In the second half we tired a bit and had to battle for everything, but we showed good grit and character in holding them off. Joe (Galbraith) was the player of the match. He kept us in the game and was fantastic all night. We will rest and regroup for Thursday’s game," Coach McIntosh concluded.
The Eagles now have three straight games at home beginning with Thursday's match up with Walla Walla University at 4 p.m. NU and WWU go at it again on Friday as they take to the NU Athletic Field at 3 p.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 7, Trinity Lutheran comes to Kirkland for the second of their two-game series.