Despite outshooting Northwest Nazarene, 29-1, and earning 14 corner kicks while not allowing any by the Crusaders, the 10th-ranked women’s soccer team needed two late goals for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon in GNAC action at Championship Field.
was held scoreless until the 77th minute, when Ashley Porter () sent a corner kick into the box. Leah Wymer () timed her jump perfectly, sending a header past Crusader goalie Amanda Peters for her 17th goal of the season. After five matches without a point, Porter finally earned her 14th assist of the season and 48th assist of her career, tying the GNAC single season and career assist records.
The Redhawks continued to pressure a tired Northwest Nazarene defense, once again advancing the ball into the box. With less than 12 minutes remaining in regulation, Kara Kuttler (, ) corralled the ball on the left side and sent a crossing pass to Jasmine Wilson (, ), who used a backwards kick to earn her fourth goal of the season and give the lead. Kuttler, the third-leading scorer on the team, picked up her third assist of the season.
Northwest Nazarene (7-9-2, 4-8-1 GNAC) withstood the early pressure in the first half, as Peters made six of her nine saves before halftime. With just over four minutes left in the half, on a counterattack, Kim Bowen rushed up the right side and sent a cross towards Hilary Hughes, who converted on the Crusaders’ only shot of the match for her second goal of the season.
This was an important victory for , ranked second in last week’s NCAA regional rankings. The win keeps the Redhawks in contention to host first- and second-round matches in the expanded six-team regional format.
(16-3, 11-2 GNAC) plays its final regular season match of the year next Saturday, Nov. 3, hosting Montana State Billings at Championship Field beginning at 1 p.m. Shortly before the match, ceremonies will be held honoring seniors Jen Hamann (, ), Kaitlyn Jackson (, ), Mickey Pelland (), Porter, Wilson, and Wymer.