CALDWELL, Idaho – Good fortune helped the Northwest University end a four match losing streak, as a pair of kind bounced led the Eagles to a 3-1 victory over the College of Idaho at Simplot Stadium.
A pair of identical crosses – one early in the match and one late clanged off the far post and in – providing the winning margin for NU (10-6, 6-5 CCC) and spoiling the Yotes Senior Day.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the fourth minute, as deep in the left corner Branson Corwin played a long looping ball over the goal mouth, glancing off the right post and into the net for a 1-0 lead.
NU kept the pressure on in the period, holding a commanding 12-1 edge in shots, extending the lead to 2-0 in the 18th minute when Corwin played a ball from the right side of the area to the feet of Kyle Zimmerman, who blasted home the 10-yard shot.
The Yotes (4-10, 3-8) played even with the Eagles in the second 45 minutes, pulling within a goal in the 75th minute, as a bad clearance allowed
Carter Perry a long 1-on-1 run, slotting home the counter.
Unfortunately for C of I, NU scored a key insurance goal just three minutes later, as Kieren Raney played a ball near the right touchline that banged off the far post and trickled in for the 3-1 lead.
NU finished the day with a 21-8 edge in shots, though C of I held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Both keepers – Daniel Christenson of the Eagles and
Grant Billings for the Yotes – had three saves, with the visitors holding an 18-7 in fouls in the physical contest.
The loss eliminated the Coyotes from postseason play, with C of I closing out the season with road matches next weekend at Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon.
NOTE – It marked the final home game for four C of I senior student-athletes –
Kyler Auernhamer,
Mehmed Selimovic,
Joao Cardoso and
Sid Rayne.
