By Joe Sova

Sports Editor

NAMPA, Idaho – Kristen Rice scored with seven and a half minutes remaining Monday, giving Eastern Oregon a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Cascade Collegiate Conference foe Albertson College in the Les Schwab Soccer Classic at Northwest Nazarene University.

It was the first win for the Mountaineers after being shut out in their first two games in the Classic to open the season.

Rice’s goal, which was assisted by Rachel Cordery and Ashlee Fitch, came after Eastern had bombarded the Albertson goal. Mountaineers head coach Colleen Fagan substituted freely in the final 25 minutes to keep the legs fresh and it paid off.

Albertson took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute of the match, finally capitalizing on scoring opportunities with a goal by Jamie Peoples from Danielle Dorsch.

With 16 minutes remaining, Lindsay Freeland found the net for Eastern, scoring unassisted to tie the match 1-1. From there it was all Mountaineers. They had a chance to score on a corner kick in the 77th minute, but a shot by Rice was over the crossbar.

Four shots later, Rice gave Eastern the lead in the 82nd minute. Eastern was able to stop a scoring chance on a Coyote corner kick with seven minutes to play and a shot with three minutes left was high over Eastern goalkeeper Sarah Androlewicz.

Eastern outshot Albertson 18-2 in the second half, and 21-10 in the match. In shots on goal, Eastern had 12 and the Coyotes only four. Androlewicz had three saves for the Mountaineers.

Host Northwest Nazarene went 3-0 to win the Classic title. The Crusaders finished with a 3-1 victory over Central Washington on Monday.

Eastern opened the season with a 3-0 loss to Northwest Nazarene in the Classic last Thursday. The Mountaineers were blanked by Central Washington 1-0 on Saturday.

The Mountaineers’ next competition is Sept. 11, when they host Albertson College in their conference opener. That is Parents’ Day, and the match begins at 1 p.m.