Northwest U Eagles upset #3 Concordia, take over top spot in CCC

After a slow start, the Northwest Eagles are playing well in conference. (Dale Garvey / file photo)

PORTLAND, Ore. - Northwest University’s Jessica Oliver scored in the 5th minute of play to lift the Eagles to a 1-0 win over No. 3-ranked Concordia University on Friday.

Northwest improved to 7-8-2 on the season and more importantly, 6-1-1 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. With the win, the Eagles take over the top spot in the CCC as CU fell to 12-2-2 overall and 6-2-0 in league contests. A win tomorrow against Warner Pacific will clinch the title and the #1 seed in the upcoming post season tournament.

CU outshot the Eagles 20-to-3 and had an 11-to-0 edge in corner kicks, but Oliver’s goal was all NU needed for the win. It was Concordia’s first loss in the new Hilken Community Stadium.

NU goalkeeper, Patty Hughes, earns the shutout with 6 saves. Lindsey Field and Lizzie Perkins had the double assist on Oliver’s goal as the ball was crossed from the right to the near post and headed to Oliver on the far post who finished from 5 yards out.

Jessica Oliver scored the winner to upset #3 Concordia in Portland on Friday night. (Dale Garvey / file photo)

“We didn’t execute our game plan and that came back to bite us,” said Concordia head coach Grant Landy. We certainly had our chances and that has been the story the last few games for us. We did everything we could have the last 60 minutes. We had a good work rate and were pressing, we just couldn’t get anything to show for it.”

Hughes thwarted close-ranged attacks from Hannah Kimsey (Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River H.S.), Alex Blalock (Flagstaff, Ariz./Coconino H.S.) and McKayla Madison (Bend, Ore./Mountain View H.S.) while snaring several dangerous corner kicks away from CU attackers.

“Northwest has been playing well after a rough start and we have hit a loll. We have to find the right trajectory, because we have picked the wrong time to not be playing well,” Landy said.

The Cavaliers title streak can remain alive with a Northwest loss and a win over Evergreen (2-10-1, 2-6-0 CCC) on Sunday afternoon after the team honors its seniors during the team’s final regular season match of the year. The contest will kickoff at 2 p.m. at Tuominen Yard.

“It’s an important game for us to at least lock up a second seed and host the first-round game,” Landy said. “But really I just want a game where we play well for our seniors and honor their work over the last four years.”

About these ads