Box Score Missoula, Mont. (October 7, 2018) – Northern Arizona Women's Soccer team recorded its ninth shutout of the season and sixth in a row against Montana. Unfortunately, the Lumberjacks offense was unable to break through for a goal, leaving the game in a 0-0 tie. Although not scoring, NAU still put up 15 shots on the day.
"The game today was a typical tough second game on the road," NAU head coach
Andre Luciano said. "Players were fatigued for both teams."
With the tie, the 'Jacks move to 9-3-3 on the season and 5-0-2 in the Big Sky Conference. Currently, Northern Arizona is second in the conference and is one of four teams that has clinched a spot in the Big Sky tournament. While Montana is 2-7-6 on the year and 1-2-4 in the conference. The Grizzlies are currently sixth in the conference.
The Lumberjacks came into the game against the Grizzlies and showed why they are statistically the best defense in the conference. In the game, Montana was held to just four shots on goal out of the 16 total. NAU's goalkeeper
Taryn Benham records her ninth shutout of the season, which leads the conference.
"Our team is playing well, and at the end of the day defense wins championships," Luciano said.
Throughout the game, the Lumberjacks had multiple chances to score but were unable to capitalize on any opportunity. Throughout regulation time NAU's best chances to score came off of shots from
Ari Gonzalez and
Paige Maling that were both wide of the net.
In the overtimes, the 'Jacks were unable to get much going as they totaled just two shots in the twenty minutes, with both being off target.
Northern Arizona will be back at home for its final two games of the season next weekend. On Friday, the 'Jacks will take on Eastern Washington at 7 p.m. MST while on Sunday the team will celebrate senior day against Idaho at 12 p.m. MST.
