GAME NOTES (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women's soccer team is excited to compete again for the first time in more than three months. The Lumberjacks will travel to Texas this weekend to take on Texas State and the University of Houston. The Lumberjacks have been preparing since the end of last season even taking on some international friendlies in Spain months ahead of this weekend.

"The thing I'm most looking forward to is the opportunity to play against someone else besides ourselves and to experience a different region of the country," said Head Coach Andre Luciano.

On Friday, Aug. 18, Luciano and the Lumberjacks will face Texas State in San Marcos at 7 p.m. before taking on Houston Sunday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. in Houston.

"Each game is going to be different," Luciano said. "I'm really focused on what we do this weekend before we come back home."

The Scout
Texas State
Day: Friday, Aug. 18
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: San Marcos, Texas
Coverage: Live Stats
 
The Texas State Bobcats will host the Lumberjacks for their home opener after beating UTSA 2-0 last weekend. Freshman Jessica Pikoff scored both goals against the Roadrunners. The last time Texas State competed against Northern Arizona was in 2006, when the Lumberjacks won 4-2 at home. The Bobcats finished the 2016 season 6-9-3 just missing the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. With 15 returning letterwinners and 11 incoming freshmen, the 26-women roster is well-balanced. In the preseason poll, Texas State was ranked seventh out of the 11-team conference with a total of 52 points.
"We are looking forward to play a quality opponent like Texas State and Coach Conner," Luciano commented. "I have a lot of respect for her and what she does with her program — and it's great to start another season."

Houston
Day: Sunday, Aug. 20
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Houston, Texas
Coverage: Live Stats
 
The University of Houston Cougars hosted their first game of the season last weekend against UTSA, resulting in a scoreless tie. The Cougars will now welcome Northern Arizona after they compete against Texas State on Friday. These two teams have never competed against each other and this first-time match-up will prove a test for both sides. The Cougars bring back a wealth of experience with 16 returning letterwinners and nine returning starters. Houston will also welcome the season with new Head Coach Diego Bocanegra.
 
"Coach Bocanegra, it's his first year there. I think that he is going to have a team that is really motivated to showcase themselves and prove their worth to their coaching staff," Luciano said. "Coach Quinn, their assistant coach, knows us very well from his time at ASU. I expect them to be well-coached, well-organized, highly motivated and it's going to be a good battle, good test and good weekend of competition."

Looking Ahead
After starting the season in Texas, the Lumberjacks will host non-conference opponent Grand Canyon in their home opener Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. Northern Arizona will face the Lopes in Lumberjack Stadium to start three-straight weeks of competition in Flagstaff.

Veteran Affairs
The 'Jacks graduated a wealth of knowledge from the roster, including two All-Big Sky selections from 2016 in Lindsay Doyle and Missy Kettelkamp. But with seniors like top-scorer Adrian Nixt and forward Anna Goebel for the front line and Riley Porter a force to be reckoned with in the back line, the Lumberjacks bring back a number of veterans.
 
Nixt competed and started in all but one game last season picking up a season-high nine goals, five of which were game-winning goals. An All-Conference first team selection Nixt finished tied for third in game-winning goals in a season, tied for sixth in shots in a season and tied for eighth in points in a season. Goebel left her mark coming off the bench competing in all but one game. With only one goal in the regular season, Goebel came alive in the conference tournament scoring three goals, two of which were game-winners.
 
Newcomer News
NAU's 36-women roster is comprised of 21 underclassmen including nine incoming freshmen. The Lumberjack squad is young, but they are a formidable bunch returning 15 letterwinners, three of which earned All-Conference nods. With 11 different goal-scorers last season, there is not any one star the blue and gold will rely on this year.