KIRKLAND – Northwest polished off its non-conference schedule Sunday with a 2-1 win over Linfield.

The Wildcats struck first, getting a breakaway goal from Cesar Cruz-Espindola in the eighth minute.

The Eagles fired right back, with Brayden Corwin burying a cross from Elliot Misic 26 seconds later.

"I thought we played our best soccer in the first 20 minutes," said NU Head Coach Gary McIntosh. "We created several opportunities that we should have done better with. After they got the first goal, I was very pleased to see our response by going right back down and tying the game. Then the rest of the game was a battle back and forth."

That 1-1 score lasted until the 87th minute when Misic got his second game winner of the week, booting home a pass from Ian Reynoso.
 

"I used a lot of different players, and we just could not find a rhythm consistently until the last 10 minutes. Then we took the game over again," McIntosh said. "We had some players come off the bench to step up and create some good chances and get the final goal. It was great to see this happen."

The Eagles outshot their guests 23-10, with Misic loading up for six shots, while Corwin and Seito Gao had three each. Misic had three shots on goal, Corwin added two, and Gao, Max Loza, Dennis Kozorezov, and Tyler Hopp tested the keeper once each.

David Fulga picked up the win in goal, logging 23 minutes. Alexander Thiehofe had both of the team's saves.

"Non-conference games are done, and I am pleased with what we have learned from our team," said McIntosh. "We have played a lot of players and given them the chance to show us what they can contribute to the team. We now turn our focus to the conference games that begin this next week."

The Eagles, now 4-1, open Cascade Collegiate Conference play with a tough road trip, taking on Oregon Tech on Friday and Southern Oregon on Saturday.