KIRKLAND – Northwest made the most of its opportunities and fended off a tough challenge to gain a Cascade Collegiate Conference Opening Day win over Southern Oregon on Friday, 1-0.
 
The physical Raiders kept the pressure on for much of the game but the Eagle defense was up to the task. Alexander Thiehofe picked up the shutout with a seven-save effort.
 
"I am pleased with how we battled and competed today," said NU Head Coch Gary McIntosh. "We dug in and did not allow them to have very good looks at the goal. Alex and the team did a great job staying organized to get the shut out."
 
The Eagles quickly turned a defensive stop into the only goal of the game when Daniel Stanczak blasted a kick from inside the box to a streaking Tyler Hopp. Hopp outran his defender and beat the keeper for the goal in the 21^st minute.
 
"Tyler scored a great goal and that was all we needed today," McIntosh said. "Now we must prepare for the next game tomorrow."
 
The Eagles had eight shots for the contest with Hopp taking four attempts. He had two of NU's three shots on goal with Brayden Corwin getting the third.
 
Casey Ruvolo had two saves and Alan Gaytan had two shots on goal for the Raiders.
 
NU, now 3-2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, hosts Oregon Tech in a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday. OIT opened CCC action with a 2-1 win at Evergreen State on Friday.