GAME NOTES (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – For the third weekend in a row the Northern Arizona women's soccer team will compete at home. The Lumberjacks will host the UNLV Rebels and the Pacific Tigers Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, respectively. Head Coach Andre Luciano and the Lumberjacks are just two weekends from conference competition and are looking good as they continue to improve and take on the season day by day.

"For us there are three phases to the game we have to master; the attacking phase, the defensive phase and the transitioning phase," Luciano said. "We've done a good job being organized defensively, our ball movement has been solid and the finishing is usually the last thing to come into play. So as long as we are creating chances, we'll continue getting better as the season progresses."

Their first test will come Friday at 7:30 p.m. as the Lumberjacks face the Rebels. UNLV has recorded more than 110 shots in six games whereas the 'Jacks have attempted 71 in five. Against an aggressive offensive team, the 'Jacks will have to put on a strong defensive performance and remain consistent in their play up top. On Sunday, Northern Arizona will compete in a rare evening game at 5 p.m. against the Tigers. The last time the Lumberjacks competed against them was in the program's first year in 1997.

The UNLV Rebels, currently on a four-game winning streak, are 5-1 overall going undefeated at home so far this season. The Rebels, led by Head Coach Chris Shaw, were picked to finish third in the Mountain West. After going 8-1-2 in conference last season, the Rebels bring back an experienced team with nine returning letterwinners and six returning starters. The last time UNLV and Northern Arizona competed, the Rebels won 3-2 at home last year.

"The first thing we need to focus on is what makes them successful in their movement," Luciano said. "They are an extremely possession-oriented team in their buildup, but they can be somewhat direct with their front runners and we have to recognize that. We have to be aware of their special players and what makes them special. If we do our homework and we are attentive to details in the game hopefully we can negate some of that firepower."
 

The Pacific Tigers, currently 2-3-1 overall, will compete against Yale in Stockton on Friday before traveling to Flagstaff. The Tigers are coming off a 3-1 win over Big Sky opponent Portland State where they attempted 25 shots, 11 on goal. Pacific and Northern Arizona have not competed against each other since the start of the Lumberjack program in 1997. Pacific, a 27-women squad led by Head Coach Kerri Scroope, is part of the West Coast Conference.
 
"They play in a great conference and the competition they are getting on an annual basis is very high, they've had some good results against our conference opponents like Portland State and we need to be mindful of that," Luciano said. "We need to focus on our day-to-day performance like we've been doing all season."

After three weeks of competition in Flagstaff, the Lumberjacks will travel to New Mexico to take on New Mexico State and New Mexico. The 'Jacks will first face New Mexico State Friday, Sept. 15 before taking on New Mexico State Sunday, Sept. 17.

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.

NAU's 34-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.