FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 17, 2018) – Northern Arizona fell in the opening game of the season 2-0 on the road to the University of Portland at Merlo Field on Friday night. NAU was not able to get much going offensively, as it was outshot 14-1 on the night.
The 'Jacks lone shot came in the 9
th minute, as
Madeline Waszak was able to put the ball on goal, off of a corner. This wound up being NAU's lone scoring chance of the game.
The match was scoreless until the 20
th minute when the Pilots were able to put the ball in the back of the net on a one-on-one breakaway by Kimberly Hazlet.
"Portland was winning every 50-50 ball in the air in the midfield, so we really couldn't get behind them. We couldn't get anything through the air or on the ground. That was the issue," NAU head coach
Andre Luciano.
The Pilots increased their lead to 2-0 when Hazlet knocked in her second goal of the game in the 75
th minute off an assist from Taryn Ries.
"Portland did a really good job of isolating us one-on-one. They were able to take advantage of us over rotating to one side and were able to slip Hazlet in," Luciano said.
Northern Arizona will return to action on Sunday, August 19 in a 1 p.m. MST start at CSU Northridge.
