CALDWELL, Idaho – A pair of second half goals lifted rival Northwest Nazarene to a 2-0 victory over the College of Idaho in a women's soccer friendly at Simplot Stadium.
It marked the third-straight year C of I and NNU have played a preseason exhibition game – but was the first non-counter on the Yotes home pitch.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, the Crusaders found the net in the 58th minute of play, as the Lady Yotes failed to clear a ball at the top of the 18 – with Anita Maryskova collecting the opportunity 25 yards from goal and driving a bending strike into the top left corner of the net.
NNU added to the lead in the 83rd minute – again taking advantage of a failed clearance from the C of I defensive third. Rikki Myers made a short run into the right side of the area, crossing a ball to Hannah Holm in the corner of the six-yard box – who flicked a pass to a wide-open Ashley Cook-Cox, who buried a 10-yard shot into an open net.
The NNU defense held the Yotes without a shot in the first half – while the Coyote defense turned away a golden opportunity in the 16th minute. Off a corner kick, Cassandra Clarke had a shot cleared off the goal line by the C of I defense, while consecutive headers by Mabinty Kanu and Olivia Carter clanged off the cross bar before Coyote keeper
Brittany Houghton was able to clear the ball out.
The Yotes, who did not have their first shot until the 68th minute, had their best opportunities with 15 minutes remaining.
Sabrina Mallett took a cross from
Katelyn Benavidez and ripped a one-timer from 20-yards that NNU keeper Chloe Sholtz had to stop with a diving save. Moments later, NNU struggled with the clearance, with Benavidez running onto a loose ball just outside the box, but a solid tackle by the Crusader defense stopped the possible 1-on-1 attack.
NNU held a 15-6 edge in total shots and a 10-2 edge in corner kicks.
C of I opens the regular season on Thursday, traveling to Embry-Riddle (Ariz.).
