EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University women’s soccer team scored their first two goals of the season on Saturday, giving them what they needed to open up Cascade Collegiate Conference play with a 2-0 win over Evergreen State College. Freshman Miranda Cruz was essential for the Beacons, assisting on both goals in the victory.
The last time NCU scored was also against the Geoducks, in the 62nd minute of their 2010 season finale. But after a stretch of 692 minutes the Beacons broke through again. In tonight’s 35th minute, Cruz placed a well-timed through ball to converted Forward Katelyn Partridge, who outpaced a single defender and found herself alone versus the goalkeeper, firing home a shot straight down the middle of the goal.
The Beacons didn’t stop there, adding another goal just five minutes into the second half. Cruz had the ball near the baseline on the right side of the goal and after her own shot careened off a defender and the crossbar, senior Brittany McKinley broke through to head in the ball at the goal line.
Assistant Coach Theo Porter said, “We attacked the goal today better than we have all season and we were finally able to finish our opportunities. The adjustment to put Katelyn up front opened everything up. Her physical play helped us utilize our speed around her to put pressure on the midfield.”
Not lost in the scoring was the fantastic play of senior keeper Ali Foster who posted four saves in picking up her first shutout and first victory of the season. Assistant Coach Theo Porter said, “Ali came up big tonight,” said Porter, “and as a group our defensive line of Kara Nelson, Brianne Lagumina, Elizabeth Jablonski and Jeneca Hoidal shut everything down and never let their primary attackers get off good shots.”
NCU was outshot in the game, 8-6 but held a 5-4 advantage in shots-on-goal. Evergreen State keeper Lauren Davidson picked up three saves in the loss.
The Beacons (1-7, 1-0 CCC) will be back in action on Monday when they play host to Northwest (5-2-2, 1-0) at 4:00 pm. The Eagles also won their conference opener against Corban on Saturday, 1-0.
The Geoducks (2-4-1, 0-1) will look to rebound on Monday in Salem, taking on Corban (5-4, 0-1) at 4:00 pm