Big Second Half Lifts Yotes Past Northwest Christian
CALDWELL, Idaho – Ben Bechor buried two goals in a second half College of Idaho scoring frenzy, as the Coyotes surged past Northwest Christian at Simplot Stadium, 4-1.
After an uneventful first half that was played between the 18s, the Coyotes (3-5-2, 2-5-1 CCC) became the aggressor in the final 45 – holding a 19-6 edge in shots after the break, including 10 on frame.
Bechor started a big 15-minute stretch with his first score in the 51st minute. A clearance (2-9-1, 1-6-1) by a Beacons defender was deflected off of the leg of Bekir Cinac – right to the waiting Bechor, who dribbed 30-yards before rocketing a shot past Julian Hernandez for the initial goal.
C of I added to the lead in the 59th minute, as Lucas Schlake chipped a ball to the right corner of the area – with Cole Fuller playing a ball to the top of the 6-yard-box – and Bechor blasted home the sitter.
The scoring continued in the 66th minute, as Fuller collected a loose ball and played Cinac down the right side. His cross found the waiting Ahmet Huremovic at the near post – one-timing the goal.
NCU had to play the final 20 minutes down a man due to a red card, but cut into the deficit with a Luis Diaz goal in the 75th minute that just eluded C of I keeper Parker Billings. However, the Yotes answered in the 82nd minute, as Bechor played a corner kick to the near post, with Andy Sanchez converting a diving header past the rushing Hernandez.
C of I held a commanding 24-10 edge in total shots and had four of the five corner kicks in the victory. Billings made six saves on the day to earn the win.
The Yotes return to action on Sunday, hosting No. 15 ranked Corban at 2:30 p.m.