CALDWELL, Idaho – Jake Levine scored the game-winner in the 98th minute as Northwest Nazarene rallied from a 3-goal second half deficit to knock off The College of Idaho, 5-4, in the season opener for both teams at Simplot Stadium.
Levine one-timed a long cross from Lukas Juodkunatitis in the middle of the box, touching the ball into the left corner of the net to cap the Nighthawks rally over the final 40 minutes of the match.
The Yotes made the most of their opportunities – building a 3-1 lead at halftime – scoring on three of their seven first half shots.
Senior
Ben Bechor scored his 16th career goal in the 18th minute, collecting a loose ball in the box and eluding NNU keeper Alex Nedermann for the counter.
NNU answered two minutes later as Juodkunaitis played a cross to Peyton Motter – who slotted the ball into the left corner of the net – but the Coyotes countered a minute later, as Bechor played a pretty ball to the top of the 6-yard-box, with
Lucas Thorne slamming home the go-ahead tally.
C of I would extend the lead to 3-1 just before halftime, as following a foul in the area,
Daniel Hagopian converted from the spot.
The margin would grow to 4-1 early in the second half, as a
Vitor Matos corner kick was headed home by
Matthew Sammartino.
Unfortunately, the Division II squad dominated possession the rest of the way, recording 18 of the final 21 shots in the match – as goals from Cameron Natvig in the 57th minute, Brandon Parsio in the 61st minute and Lorenzo Valentini in the 79th minute, got the Nighthawks even – forcing extra time.
NNU held a 25-12 edge in to total shots and a 9-2 edge in corner kicks.
Freshman keeper
Drew Morris made seven saves in his collegiate debut, with Matos, Hagopian,
Kaleb Lee,
Morgan Reah and
Dylan Bowes all seeing their first action in the Coyote purple.
C of I will open Cascade Conference play on March 7 and 8, host the University of Providence.
