Monday, September 17, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - A win and a draw has earned Northwest Nazarene’s men’s soccer team the GNAC Team of the Week award.

The Crusaders battled Western Washington to a scoreless deadlock last Thursday, then stunned 12th ranked Simon Fraser 2-1 Saturday, ending the Clan’s GNAC-record tying 24-game unbeaten streak.

“I’m thrilled for the guys to get four points out of what is always a difficult road trip,” NNU coach Coe Michaelson said.  “They are buying into the philosophy that winning teams work for each other and for the team first.

“That attitude along with a bit of time for our system to start coming together really made for a great road trip.”

Defender Stephen Marshall was a key player on the trip and was named the GNAC Red Lion Defensive Player of the Week. 

“Stephan showed this weekend why he is one of the best defenders in the region,” Michaelson said.  “His leadership and ability to read the game are second to none.”

“It was a huge sense of relief (to get the tie and win),” Marshall said.  “We knew we were good but we needed this result to confirm that.”

Marshall credited his team’s defense.  “Our midfield played great,” Marshall said.  “Derrick (Brown) is a beast in the middle and he really shut down Simon Fraser’s midfield attack.”

Offensively, the Crusaders were led by midfielder Jaime Torres, who earned an assist on NNU’s first goal against Simon Fraser in the 72nd minute.  Torres then scored what turned out to be the winning goal at 86:31.

Simon Fraser got that one back at 88:42, but were unable to get the equalizer in the final 1:18.

Northwest Nazarene, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2008, leveled its record at 2-2-2.

After handing Simon Fraser its first loss, NNU now must face Seattle Pacific at home this Thursday.  The Falcons, who were ranked second in last week’s national poll, equaled their best start in school history last weekend with wins over Mary and Sioux Falls to improve to 6-0 on the season.