EUGENE, Ore. – A torrent of wind and rain just 15 minutes prior to kick off proved to be an ominous bit of foreshadowing for the Beacons on Saturday evening as the NCU women’s soccer team was doused by The College of Idaho, 4-2.
NCU finished with an 11-9 edge in shot attempts and had one more shot-on-goal then their opponent, but an early onslaught by C of I proved to be the difference.
The Yotes blitzed early, getting three goals over the first 17 minutes as the Northwest Christian defense struggled to respond. Jamiece Yizar (pictured) got things going in the fifth minute, taking a through-ball from Aurora Ostolasa and scoring off the left post.
CI tacked on two more within a two-minute stretch with Ostolasa drawing out the keeper in the 16th minute for a chip-in, courtesy of a set-up pass from Allie Swanson. Then, in the 18th minute Yizar was at it again, adding to her conference-leading total with her 13th goal of the season. The junior forward took a breakaway pass from Summer Jackson and put a ten-yard strike into the nylon.
With the Beacons reeling, head coach Jessica Cardwell made some timely substitutions and NCU was able to calm things down, finishing out the half without any more damage.
NCU was determined not to go down without a fight and continued the positive progress they showed over the final section of the first half. The Beacons got on the board in the 55th minute when Sami Wilson collected a through-ball from Janae Haggard and chipped a shot over the CI keeper.
CI responded with an insurance goal in the 74th minute as Summer Jackson scored unassisted and the Beacons put up one more of their own in the 87th minute when Maddi Bartholomew headed home a corner kick from Emily Miller.
The College of Idaho (9-2, 5-1 CCC) finds themselves in a four-way tie for second-place in the CCC. They will return home next Friday where they will play host to Warner Pacific at 3:30 p.m.
Tonight was the final home conference game for the Beacons who will spend the final two weeks of the season on the road. Next week is their bye weekend in the CCC slate and the team will use the opportunity for a non-conference Senior Night game against Trinity Lutheran at 7 p.m.