KIRKLAND, Wash. – The first score of the game would be all the Eagles would need as Northwest University shut out Linfield College, 3-0, in a non-conference game on a warm and sunny day in Kirkland.
Freshman forward, Jack MacDonald would get the game winner just 8:28 into the game as he would bend a 25 yard shot past the Linfield goalkeeper from the left side and into the upper right corner of the net. Alex Ballard was credited for he assist.
Ballard would get his second assist of the game as he would center ball to Payton Gunhus for the header from 8 yards out just clearing the out stretched hands of the Wildcats' goalkeeper.
The game would remain scoreless until the 89th minute as Mikias Repsold would take Jack MacDonald's pass from the right corner and score 16 yards right center of the goal with a right footer.
The Eagle defense and goalkeeper Daniel Christenson would earn the clean sheet as 8 shots on goal were gathered in by Christenson.
Northwest U (2-2) was led by MacDonald's five shots, two on goal with one score. The Eagles outshot Linfield 21-18 with corners being tied at 4 for each team.
Nick Van Kleek made 5 saves in goal for Linfield (1-1) as Isaias Flores led the Wildcats with 6 shots, 4 shot on goal. Ryan Kister tallied 4 shots, two on goal.
Said NU coach, Gary McIntosh after the game: "I'm pleased with how we played today. We have specifically been working on certain aspects of our play and today we did a better job of executing. This is a work in progress and we continue to improve. Getting the shut out today was huge and showed a complete team effort in defending our goal. We had several players who had good individual games for us: Daniel (Christenson) was solid in goal, Jack (MacDonald) got us going early and his goal set the tone for the first half. Alex Ballard was good in setting up two of the goals and did a solid job for us on the outside. Our focus switches now to what we need to do better as we prepare for our next game."
Next up: Northwest U hosts St. Martin's University from the NCAA D-II on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 4:30 pm.
