Kirkland, WA - The Northwest men's soccer team took down Southern Oregon, 2-1, on Friday.
It was a messy game from the start. The mud took center stage as players from both sides were slipping and sliding, which dictated numerous plays across the full 90 minutes.
While there were shots on both sides early on, neither team could get a strong foothold, but the Raiders slowly took control of the first half, occurring ten shots for the period.
The rain began to dissipate at the start of the second half, which allowed the Eagles to take advantage in the 48th minute. Forward Elliot Misic hit the crossbar, which allowed fellow striker Matthew Ludlow to pick up the loose change in front to break the ice. Ludlow went in again in the 59th minute with his second goal of the game to give the Eagles the 2-0 lead.
As the second half transpired, tempers began to flare. The refs booked eight yellow cards, with six of them going to the Eagles and two for the Raiders.
The Raiders were able to put away a goal late in the second half by defender Bryan Mendoza with the assist coming from Ariel De Dios Cruz. The Raiders had life and fought tooth and nail to get the equalizer, but the Eagles were able to foil their chances, ending the game with a thrilling victory.
"The guys played well today in rainy conditions," said Head Coach Gary McIntosh. "Matt continues having a good year up front. The seniors led the way for us today. They played with heart and grit and made things happen today. It's always a great feeling to get a win at home. We are excited to celebrate the seniors tomorrow on senior day."