Monday, October 9, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. – After shutting out its two opponents this week and tying the most conference victories in its Division II program history, the Northwest Nazarene women’s soccer team has earned this week’s GNAC/Red Lion Team of the Week honor.
The Crusaders began the week with a convincing 3-0 home win against Central Washington. In the 12th minute, Rikki Meyers scored her fifth goal of the season after finishing her breakaway chance to open the scoring. Reigning GNAC Women’s Offensive Player of the Week, Madi Taylor, closed out the match with a pair of goals to give Northwest Nazarene its seventh win of the season.
“We worked hard today,” said head coach Mary Trigg regarding her team’s performance on Thursday. “The girls made the adjustments needed on the field. I’m proud of the whole group and their determination.”
Northwest Nazarene finished the week strong after Taylor’s golden goal 54 seconds into overtime sunk Seattle Pacific 1-0 to improve the Crusaders to 8-4-0. The victory also tied a women’s soccer school record for most wins in a conference season (5) since the Crusaders joined the GNAC in 2002.
“We showed our depth today. Every girl stepped up and filled important roles,” said Trigg. “The girls wanted it so bad and I couldn’t be more proud.”
The pair of wins moved Northwest Nazarene up to third in the GNAC standings with a 5-2-0 conference record. Blanking both opponents this week, the Crusaders are tied for first with No. 3 Western Washington with seven shutouts this season and rank 23rd in Division II with .583 shutouts per game.
Crusader goalkeeper Danielle Ortiz ranks third in the GNAC with a 0.80 goals against average and is second with a .814 save percentage. Taylor’s team-high six goals rank tied for third in the GNAC.
Finishing 4-13-0 and tied for eighth a year ago, the Crusaders were picked to finish seventh in this year’s 2017 GNAC Preseason Women’s Coaches Poll. The two-win week gives Northwest Nazarene four wins in its last five matches.
The Crusaders travel to Portland, Ore., next week to take on second-place Concordia, in what could be a possible preview of a GNAC Championships’ tournament matchup in November. NNU finishes the week at home against Western Oregon on Sat., Oct. 14.