NAMPA, Idaho - Whitney Wood volleyed home a cross from Sarah Staropoli three minutes into overtime, lifting Northwest Nazarene to a 2-1 victory over The College of Idaho at the NNU Soccer Field.
After dominating possession during the second half but unable to crack the net, the Crusaders (3-1) played a ball down the right side of the pitch. Staropoli chipped a ball over a group of players to the left corner of the six-yard box, with Wood one-timing the ball into the left corner of the net, giving NNU their first win over their Canyon County rival in four times.
The Crusaders started quickly, as Staropoli took advantage of a defensive breakdown in the fifth minute, taking a feed from Autumn Yturbe, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. The Yotes (0-3) would get the equalizer in the 17th minute, as Jessica Ayala played a ball from the right side to Shea Yuma at the top of the box, driving the ball home.
NNU had a commanding 17-2 edge in shots, including an 8-0 edge after halftime - nearly taking the lead in the 56th minute, when a Sarah Blum shot clanged off the cross bar. The Crusaders also had an 11-0 edge in corner kicks, but the Coyotes hung around, thanks to seven saves from keeper Melissa Holmes-Joseph.
The C of I returns to action in two weeks, hosting Eastern Oregon and Carroll College in a round-robin tournament.
