FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 21, 2018) – Northern Arizona ends the regular season with a 0-0 tie against Idaho on senior day. The game had huge implications for both teams, as a win would have locked up a top two seed in the Big Sky Championships.
"We knew going into the game that Idaho was going to be a big physical team with both teams playing for a lot," NAU head coach
Andre Luciano said.
This draw pushes Northern Arizona to 9-4-4 on the season and 5-1-3 in the Big Sky Conference. They end the season ranked fourth in the conference. The tie will place Idaho third in the conference with an overall record of 9-6-3 on the year, while finishing 6-1-2 in the conference.
From the start of the first half, both the Lumberjacks and the Vandals played aggressive wanting to get a final win on their records. Idaho out-shot Northern Arizona 6-5 but both goalkeepers came up with a save for their respective teams.
"The strategy coming in was to try to hit the channels against Idaho and be able to circulate the ball," Luciano said.
The Lumberjack seniors played their last home game with purpose and drive. In the first half,
Mei-Te Coco and
Haleigh Van Allen both got two shots off on goal and
Ari Gonzalez followed them with another shot for the 'Jacks. Goalkeeper,
Taryn Benham, came up with a save in the first half to keep the match at a tie going into halftime.
Going into the second half, it was a battle of the defenses. Northern Arizona was able to put seven shots on goal opposed to Idaho's eight shots. Benham came up big for the Lumberjacks saving six of those shots from making it into the goal. The Vandals goalkeeper, Makayla Presgrave, saved five of the eight shots put on their goal in this half. NAU's
Madeline Waszak made an attempt at one of these goals in the 82
nd minute of the game with a header aimed at the net, but it was saved by Presgrave.
"Today's game we had two of the best defensive teams playing against each other in the conference, with two of the best goalkeepers playing against each other with two of the best back lines and figuring out which team is going to crack that egg," Luciano said. "Both teams had chances throughout."
After the 90-minute regulation period, both teams came out fighting for a goal in overtime. Idaho's offense took advantage of the first overtime period with two shots on goal, but both were just wide.
Northern Arizona answered with three shots on the Vandal's goal in the second period of overtime.
Paige Maling played aggressively for the 'Jacks as she had a shot on goal in the 103
rd minute that was narrowly saved by the Idaho goalkeeper.
The Lumberjacks were able to show dominance on both sides of the ball in this match-up against Idaho but were unsuccessful in putting a goal on the scoreboard. The defensive played one of their strongest games of the season, especially goalkeeper Benham. Benham came up large for NAU as she recorded her tenth shutout of the season, placing her second in NAU's single-season record books.
The Lumberjacks will have a week off until they head into the Big Sky Championship next Wednesday, Oct. 31 to face off with Montana.
