FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – While calling the fourth-place finish at the Red Rocks Invitational last weekend a "step back" is a hypercritical assessment of the team's performance, the Northern Arizona University golf team is certainly looking to improve and make the necessary adjustments in preparation for its tournament next week, the Wildcat Invitational

"These are the kinds of tournaments you love to play in," said Head Coach Brad Bedortha. "To be able to have the opportunity to compete in events like this is what our players strive for. The better the field, the more they want to compete. I would love for us to go there and be competitive with a bunch of schools. We have the players that can do it, we just have to show up and get it done."

"We just have to continue to focus on the process and hope the results we want to see follow," said Assistant Coach Langley Vannoy. "The girls are doing everything they need to do in practice and their mental stability is where it needs to be. It's just a matter of executing and having the cards fall into place. I have complete confidence they'll do great at this tournament."

So far this spring season, freshman Sofya Anokhina has been the top golfer for the NAU squad, recording top-10 finishes in two of the three tourneys, including a No. 2 finish at the Bison at Boulder Creek Invite to open the season. Last weekend, Anokhina turned in a 5-over-par 149 for a seventh-place finish on the individual leaderboard. With her showing at Red Rocks, Anokhina improved her already team-leading average round score to 75.63.

Junior Kim Cifuentes is coming off the best-scored second round of any Lumberjack at the Red Rocks Invite, tallying a 3-over 75 mark during the final 18 holes of action. Her rally in that second round allowed Cifuentes to climb five spots on the individual leaderboard where she finished the weekend in a tie for 17th-place.

Because of her great performance as an individual at Red Rocks last weekend, sophomore Carly Akine will join the Lumberjacks on their starting five scoring roster next week. Akine is coming off a 9-over 153 36-hole score and a 13th-place finish, which was the third-highest finish of all NAU golfers in the field.

Fellow sophomore Kaitlyn Saum (8-over 152, T11th-place last weekend) and freshman Morgan Messick (18-over 162 last weekend) will also turn in scores for the Lumberjacks at the Wildcat Invitational, while sophomore Sierra Bezdicek will compete as an individual.

"Our golfers are busting their butts, keeping their spirits up and they have great attitudes every day they come out to practice," said Bedortha. "I feel comfortable that we're doing the right things as a team. I see all the hard work and effort going into improving themselves as golfers, and you have to have a belief it's going to pay off. It doesn't always pay off, but at the end of the day you can look yourself in the mirror and say, 'I did everything I'm supposed to be doing.'"

The Wildcat Invitational will begin this Monday, Mar. 14, with an 8 a.m. MT shotgun start. The 15-team field will play 36 holes—or two rounds of action—the first day, while the third and final tournament round will take place Tuesday, Mar. 15, also at 8 a.m. MT.