FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ. – The Northern Arizona University women's soccer team fell to the University of Houston this evening, Aug. 20, in their second game of the season. The first meeting in school history between the Houston Cougars and Northern Arizona ended in a 4-1 loss for the Lumberjacks. Despite the result, Head Coach Andre Luciano and the Lumberjacks have some positive stats to look back on.
"I thought our players were really resilient, playing in tough conditions here in Texas," Luciano said. "It wasn't for a lack of effort."
Senior defender Riley Porter notched her first goal of the season and fourth in her career off of a corner by Heather Donais. Northern Arizona had six total corners this evening, scoring one for their lone digit in the game. Porter recorded 81 minutes and three of the Lumberjack's 15 shot attempts. Lumberjack's Anna Goebel and Carly Gamble combined for eight shots compared to Houston's total nine. Northern Arizona not only outshot the Cougars 5:3, but also had more looks on goal.
"We have been focusing on set pieces and we've scored three off of set pieces early in the season," Luciano said. "We just need to focus on finishing our chances in front of the goal."
Defensively, senior goalkeeper Meghan Dickmann was under high pressure from the start with the ball on their half for the first two minutes. With a cross and their first shot on goal, Houston was up 1-0 over Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks were pressuring the Cougars as well, sending balls up and over their defensive creating a few breakaway opportunities for the blue and gold forwards. Nearly 10 minutes later, Houston was back in NAU's defensive third with their second goal of the half putting them up 2-0. The next two goals came in the second half, one from a defensive deflection.
"The one thing that we communicated in the beginning of the season is that it is really difficult to chase a game," Luciano said. "We have to do a better job of having a little bit more defensive urgency, but we were able to create some chances in the second half."
The Lumberjacks are back in action Friday, Aug. 25 against in-state rival Grand Canyon. Northern Arizona will host for the first time this season in Lumberjack stadium, kick off is set for 7 p.m.
