BOX SCORE

SEASIDE, Calif. — Call it selective amnesia.

Able to put the memories of a 2-0 loss to Notre Dame de Namur behind them, the Cal State Monterey Bay Men's Soccer team was able to flip the script and provide their own 2-0 victory over Great Northwest Athletic Conference contender Northwest Nazarene.

"We came in with a different attitude. We changed some things tactically and the boys put it into use," said CSUMB Head Coach Rob Cummings (@RobCummings3). "We wore them down and executed on two good finishes."

For the first half, the Otters and Crusaders played to a deadlock, with both teams registering three shots and two corner kicks. The only dangerous opportunity came off the right foot of NNU forward Jamie Verdin, who knocked one off the left post from the center of the penalty area in the 41st minute.

After surviving that scare, CSUMB's second half adjustments proved to be decisive.

Starting the half like a team possessed, the Otters applied heavy pressure out of the gate. After a frenzy in front of the goal, senior forward Max Madrigal (Oxnard College) poked one past Crusader goalkeeper Alfredo Ontiveros in the 46th minute for the first Otter goal of the season.

Barely two minutes later, Nick Stanley (Yucaipa HS) scored his first collegiate goal on a fantastic shot. Duce Bell (Fresno City College) set the play up by winning the ball in the lower left corner of the penalty area before threading a strong diagonal pass to Stanley 20 yards from goal. The freshman midfielder did the rest, firing a bullet just under the NNU crossbar to double the Otter advantage.

"Duce played me a really good ball on the outside," said Stanley. "I just took a touch and banged it in."

With the first win under their collective belt, the Otters can look at the next two weeks and their final three pre–CCAA matches in a much different light.

"We know what we are capable of doing," said Cummings. "I'm pleased that guys can come off the bench and do the job for us and get some goals."

The Otters look to keep the momentum going as they head on the road to face Fresno Pacific on Sept. 9. CSUMB won't return to the Otter Sports Complex until it concludes the nonconference portion of their schedule against Hawaii–Hilo on Sept. 23.