Mountaineers Drop 4-2 Road Contest at NNU
EOU Sports Information
NAMPA, Idaho – Eastern Oregon University Men’s Soccer played its second game of the 2021 spring season Friday night in a non-conference showdown at Northwest Nazarene University. Patrick Larsen netted both EOU goals as the Mountaineers fell 4-2 to the Nighthawks.
Helping NNU (2-1) secure the home win was a 17-10 shots advantage and a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. EOU (0-2) committed less fouls at 3-6, and picked up more saves at 5-1. The Nighthawks managed to net a pair of goals in each period, while EOU had just one in each.
The Nighthawks grabbed the first lead of the game in the 10th minute. A shot from the left inside corner of the penalty area toward the opposite high right end of the net got just past the goalkeeper’s reach and allowed NNU to jump up 1-0 early. The Mountaineers had opportunities to respond but were unable to connect on the first three opportunities. It was in the 26th minute when Angel Rojas found Patrick Larsen in stride who scored from the right side 10 yards out. Larsen went opposite side to the lower half of the net to get the ball past the keeper and tie the contest at 1-1.
The score remained knotted at 1-1 for the rest of the first period until NNU struck with just under five minutes to play until halftime. The Nighthawks got just inside the penalty area on the right and hit a shot to the lower left corner of the net to regain the lead at 2-1. Both teams had multiple shots in the first 45 minutes of action. EOU had six, while NNU had two more at eight. Shots on goal was in the Nighthawks’ favor at 5-1. The Nighthawks however did have six foul calls to just one by EOU and the Mounties had more saves at 3-0 at the break.
Both squads came out trading shots quickly in the opening minutes of the second period. NNU capitalized in the 58th minute hitting a goal from the middle inside of the penalty area to the lower left end of the net. The first of two second period goals pushed the Nighthawks’ lead to 3-1. The lead grew to three for the Nighthawks in the 69th minute as they scored their fourth and final goal of the contest. NNU found an open space in the middle of the field just outside the penalty area and once again hit the lower left end of the net to extend the lead to 4-1.
The final goal from the Mountaineers once again came on the efforts of Larsen. His second goal was unassisted as he got inside the middle of the penalty area and scored into the lower middle area of the net to bring the final score to 4-2.
Patrick Larsen led the way for EOU with two goals scored. He took four shots for the game with two coming on goals. Angel Rojas picked up an assist in the game on Larsen’s first goal. He also had one shot that came on goal. Joaquin Bermejillo was right behind Larsen in shots finishing with three. In net, Max Rose (0-2) tallied four saves in 74 minutes of action. Noah Galow played the final 16 minutes and notched one save.
For the Nighthawks, Jake Levine led the NNU offense in shots with four (1 SOG) and scored one goal to go along with an assist. Lukas Juodkunatis also had one goal and one assist. He finished with two shots, both of which came on goal. Lorenzo Valentini and Cameron Natvig each scored one goal in the win. Natvig was second on the team in shots with three. Goalkeeper Sawyer Price picked up the win in net to go to 2-1. He had one save in 90 minutes of action.
Eastern Oregon has a short turnaround as the team will be back on its home field this Sunday, Feb. 28. The Mountaineers will play another non-conference match when they host Northwest University. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. PT inside Community Stadium.