GAME NOTES (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women's soccer team returns to Flagstaff to host their first game of the season while welcoming students back to campus. Northern Arizona will take on Grand Canyon Friday night at 7 p.m. in Lumberjack Stadium. The NAU Women's Soccer program is also celebrating 20 years of NAU Soccer and this season Head Coach Andre Luciano and the Lumberjacks are going through the years and honoring the more than 200 athletes and 20 teams who have competed in blue and gold.

"Once you step on the pitch it's 11v11," said Luciano. "We are excited we get to be home this home-opening weekend and hopefully we put out a quality product that makes people want to come out and watch more games. This is home sweet home and we want to 'Pack The Jack' and make this a tough place to play for any opponent."

Friday's game is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are $3 for general admission, while NAU students and children under 12 get in for free. The game will be televised on Suddenlink Channel 4 NAU-TV and Fox Sports Arizona Plus and streamed live on Pluto TV Channel 239.

The Lumberjacks are coming off a 2-0 win over Texas State and a 4-1 loss to Houston this past weekend.

"I think we just need to continue keeping the intensity and the work rate that we've had all through preseason, because that was apparent in both games," Luciano said. "Even though we were down against Houston we were still pressing and creating chances and we want to continue tightening some things up defensively, so that we don't have any individual 1v1 breakdowns. The goal is to generate more scoring opportunities and actually start to capitalize on those."

The Scout
Grand Canyon
Day: Friday, Aug. 25
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Flagstaff, Ariz.
Coverage: Live on Suddenlink Channel 4 (NAU-TV)
Live and Streaming on Fox Sports Arizona Plus
Live Streaming on Pluto TV Channel 239
Live Stats on NAU Athletics
 
The Grand Canyon Antelopes will return to Flagstaff for the first time since 2014. The last time these two teams matched up was last year when the Lopes swept the Lumberjacks. GCU is coming off of two 1-0 losses against Texas Tech and New Mexico. The Lopes finished the 2016 season 7-9-2 and are returning eight starters and bringing on 11 newcomers. Grand Canyon is in the Western Athletic Conference and are led by Head Coach Derek Leader.

"Whether we are playing at home or on the road there is going to be a difference, so I think the players are more excited about being at home versus who the opponent is," Luciano said. "Obviously both teams want to win because of in-state bragging rights, but for us, I think of preconference season as our way of fixing what needs to be fixed. If we can continue progressing one step at a time then we've done a good job as a coaching staff and we've done a good job as a team."

Looking Ahead

The Lumberjacks will remain in Flagstaff after their home opener against GCU to host the Mountain Classic. Detroit Mercy, Grand Canyon, Nevada and Northern Arizona will compete in a series of games next weekend. The Lumberjacks will first face Detroit Mercy Friday, Sept. 1 before taking on Nevada Sunday, Sept. 3.

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.