PORTLAND | The Warner Pacific Knights dropped game one of their weekend series against Northwest on Sunday afternoon. Despite multiple shots resulting in crossbars, and four opportunities to score, the Knights were unable to capitalize and ultimately fell to the Eagles 0-2.
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The Rundown
The Warner Pacific defense remained tight for the first 45 minutes of play, not allowing the Eagles to sneak anything through the back line. Each team had their fair share of opportunities, but the keepers came up big on each side of the pitch.
Warner Pacific's Alyssa Guthrie finished with seven saves while the Eagles keeper, Kierstin Patefield grabbed four.
Just as it seemed the Knights were gaining momentum, the Eagles would respond. In the 60
th minute, Warner Pacific's Courtney Cutter took a free kick from 30-yards out and sent the ball soaring above the heads of all the players, including the keeper, only for it to bounce off the cross bar.
Just seven minutes later, the Eagles found their way through the Knight backline, keeping the ball low and finding the foot of Callie Wright.
Just 10 minutes later, the same exact play that happened to Cutter, happened for the Eagles. Except, unlike the Knights', there was a teammate to meet the ball off the bar to flick it in. With 23 minutes remaining, the Knights trailed 0-2.
The Knights, moving with urgency, continued to pressure the Eagle defense, working angles to find a lapse in their movement. Just as the clock was rounding zero, Courtney Cutter once again found herself with an opportunity to convert on a free kick.
The transfer out of Concordia Portland hit the crossbar once more and the buzzer sounded.
Deeper Look
The Knights are still in the hunt for their first conference win of the season
Warner Pacific holds a 3-12 record against the Eagles
Alyssa Guthrie's seven saves puts her at 12 for the season
Flash Forward
The Knights host the Eagles again on Monday afternoon at 2pm before heading to Ashland, Oregon for games against Southern Oregon next weekend.