FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Conference action found its way to Flagstaff, as the Northern Arizona women's soccer team hosted the Northern Colorado Bears at Lumberjack Stadium Friday night. Head Coach
Andre Luciano and the Lumberjacks defeated the Bears 1-0 in overtime to increase to 7-5 overall and 2-1 in the Big Sky. It was a battle between two of the longest tenured Big Sky women's soccer head coaches and two evenly matched opponents.
"This week the players got after it, we talked about being more direct and getting behind teams and using our pace," Luciano said. "Our players did exactly what we wanted them to, they did an awesome job — what else can you ask from your team."
Northern Arizona dominated the game from the beginning. Despite going scoreless in regulation play, the Lumberjacks had multiple opportunities on goal. The 'Jacks recorded 18 shots compared to the Bears eight, and the pressure came from all areas of the field. Northern Arizona's defense denied any chance Northern Colorado had to get forward.
After 90-plus minutes of soccer including a called-back offsides goal, the Lumberjacks came out to win in overtime. Senior
Chantal Deroos already had two shots, one on goal when she scored her first goal of the season in the 97
thminute. The senior from Boulder, Colo. felt the team competed well against a strong Northern Colorado squad.
"We went into this overtime with this mentality that we are not losing," Deroos said. "I think the key was that we were able to apply pressure to their defense forcing them to kick it forward and as a result they weren't able to connect."
Defensively, the Lumberjacks held their own with freshman goalkeeper
Taryn Benham stepping in between the posts for the first time in her collegiate career.
"The team put their trust in me and I trusted them," Benham said. "All week we've worked on going at goal and being direct and we did what we needed to."
Benham recorded five saves and her first conference shutout against Northern Colorado. The Lumberjacks have now broken a 7-7 overall series tie with this win tonight.
Northern Arizona will be back in action Sunday against North Dakota at Lumberjack Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.
