BURNABY — The Simon Fraser University men's soccer team narrowly escaped with a 2-1 win over the visiting Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks on Saturday afternoon, as an 84th-minute marker from NNU created a tense finish in an otherwise dominant Red Leafs showing.
 
With the home side well in control late in the contest, the Nighthawks (6-2-1, 2-1-0) capitalized on a sloppy breakout attempt from SFU to get on the board. As the Nighthawks reclaimed possession in Red Leafs territory, senior midfielder Ethan Atterberry laid it off for sophomore Jonathan Cardona. Cardona let it go from distance, and his 20-yard curler was a brilliant piece of work. The shot made it just over the outstretched fingertips of a diving Justyn Sandhu, keeping NNU alive.
 
However, the Nighthawks' efforts to find the equalizer came up short over the final minutes, as the SFU defense didn't allow NNU to threaten the goal for the remainder of the contest.
 
Though the end result was closer than they maybe would have liked, the Red Leafs' overall performance Saturday was thoroughly impressive.
 
SFU (5-3-0, 2-1-0) directed 18 shot attempts in NNU keeper's Sawyer Price, with nine on target. That included a 6-0 shot tally in the first half as SFU completely dictated the flow of play. In the 40th minute, after Mark Talisuna was tripped just outside the 18-yard box, defender Niko Papakyriakopoulos stepped to the spot and picked the bottom left corner with an effortless-looking free kick. Price didn't have the chance to react as the ball weaved its way around the wall and found the back of the goal.
 
As good as Papakyriakopoulos' marker was, SFU wasn't done with class finishes for the day.
 
Alan Camacho Soto's eventual game-winner was a spectacular individual effort. Racing towards a loose ball 30 yards out from the Nighthawks goal, the senior forward fought off a defender to take possession on the bounce. Making a sharp cut to the right and again outmuscling two defenders, Camacho Soto let a high-arching shot go, which dropped into the top right corner of the goal behind Price.
 
SFU will need all the possible momentum as they prepare to welcome the undefeated Western Washington Vikings (6-0-1, 3-0-3) to Terry Fox Stadium next Thursday, October 6th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.

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