NAMPA, Idaho – The Chaminade University women's soccer team ended their road trip Tuesday by picking up their first win of the season, a 2-1 victory of Northwest Nazarene at NNU Soccer Field.
Gracie Knowd (Ramona, Calif./New Mexico State/Ramona HS) scored the game's first goal then assisted on
Alexys Taira's (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) go-ahead score late in the first half to give the Silverswords (1-0-2) a quality west region road win.
The Nighthawks (0-3) got on the board in the seventh minute on a 28-foot shot off the left foot of Alejandro Jaramillo.
But the 'Swords responded in the 34th minute when Knowd, a senior, headed in a corner kick from sister,
Madelynne Knowd (Ramona, Calif./Ramona). It was the first career points for both sisters.
Just over four minutes later,
Gracie Knowd found Taira at the top of box, who in turn, one-timed a 40-foot blast into the upper-left corner to put the 'Swords ahead at halftime.
The 2-1 score stood in the second half thanks to Chaminade's swarming defense and goalkeeper
Jordhan Kieres (Lakewood, Ohio/Bellermine Univ./Lakewood HS), who made her first career start.
Kieres kept NNU out of the net with three saves, then survived a flurry of Nighthawks attempts in the waning minutes to earn her first-ever victory.
Chaminade took 11 shots with
Gracie Knowd taking a team-high three.
Clara Slate-Liu (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada/Ecolè Alpha Secondary) and Taira took two each.
Northwest Nazarene attempted nine shots on the evening with Alex Barrass taking the loss.
The Silverswords will return home and will next be in action in Saturday, Sept. 21, at Saint Louis Field against the University of Hawai'i Hilo at 2:30 p.m.
