FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Emotions were high for Northern Arizona women's soccer as they fell to Southern Utah on senior night 1-0 in the final home match of the season. The Lumberjacks celebrated seven seniors Friday night while fighting for a spot in the conference tournament.
"Senior day is always tough, because there are a lot of emotions, but they did what we asked them to do, they played their hearts out," said Head Coach
Andre Luciano. "We were a little unlucky with some of the decisions we made in front of goal."
Northern Arizona went into the weekend 9-8 overall and 4-4 in the Big Sky, holding the fifth-place spot out of six to make it into the Big Sky Conference tournament. Friday night saw teams eliminated from postseason action and others still holding on to a chance.
Northern Arizona, one of the latter, who is still fighting to keep their current sixth-place spot with just one game left next against Sacramento State. After Friday night the 'Jacks advance to 9-9 overall and 4-5 in the Big Sky.
"What do you tell your team when you dominated a team 19 to three in shots, 11 to two on goal and you lose a game 1-0," said Luciano. "Our team played hard, our team played well, they played with a purpose, but we just didn't finish."
The Lumberjacks dominated the Thunderbirds on paper, recording 19 shot attempts to Southern Utah's three. Defensively, senior goalkeeper
Meghan Dickmann jumped back into action after missing six games in the heart of conference play, but came back to lead a solid back line.
"I thought our back line was organized," said Luciano. "I wouldn't say they were dangerous, we just had one defensive error between two players and the girl slipped in — it is what it is."
The Thunderbirds scored in the 20
th minute of the first half and the Lumberjacks didn't give up their chance to tie the game, including two breakaway opportunities from senior forward
Adrian Nixt and an overall pressure-heavy offensive from the blue and gold.
Northern Arizona have the rest of the weekend off and a full week of practice ahead going into their final game of the regular season at Sacramento State Friday, October 27 at 3:30 p.m.
"I think rest is going to be the most critical thing and to be up seven days rest versus five days rest I think is important," said Luciano.
Unlike their next opponents in the Sac State Hornets, who have a critical match Sunday against Southern Utah, the Lumberjacks will have a chance to rest before competing again. In addition, the seniors will have another chance at the opportunity to continue their careers in the Big Sky Conference tournament.
