The Red Raiders fell to Friends University (Kan.) Monday afternoon, 1-2. The Raiders fall to 1-2 while Friends improves to 2-1 on the season.

Both teams came out strong and both were vying for the possession advantage early on a warm afternoon. Both teams showed some patience in the attack but a turnover in the midfield hurt the Raiders on the scoreboard. 

Roberto Gomes won the ball off the Raiders in the midfield in the 16th minute and punished the Raider backline with a slick through ball to Juan Zamora who calmly put the ball past keeper James Warren. 

The Raiders would settle in the rest of the first half but their chances throughout the half did not come to any great chances on frame.

The second half started off poorly for Northwestern as another midfield turnover would turn into a chance for the Falcons. A long ball would spring the Falcons into the Raider's defensive third and a slotted ball across the face of goal would almost see the ball get put into the Raider net but the ball would come back outside the box to Marcos RecioBlanco who would lay off a ball to a screaming Roberto Gomes who would one time hit a shot past Warren.

The Raiders would scratch back a goal in the 86th minute when Bryant Carrere would volley home a headed ball from James Bolger off a set piece. The goal was too little too late for the Raiders as they could not muster another good chance in the waning minutes of the match. NWC only put 3 shots on frame all day. 

"I am disheartened by our performance today," commented head coach Dan Swier. "We had several players on the field with a poor mentality. We will only get better by either overcoming challenges or learning from them when we fall short. This is one where we have to learn."

The Raiders continue their non-conference schedule Thursday evening as they travel to Fayette, Mo. to take on number one ranked Central Methodist University who is 4-0 on the season.