PORTLAND, Ore. (October 6, 2019) – Northern Arizona University women's soccer return from their fourth travel contest this season after facing Portland State (4-9, 3-1 Big Sky) today, recording their first loss in the Big Sky Conference of 1-0.
"It's always very tough to play on the road. I am proud of how our players played with effort and showed they wanted to win the game," head coach
Kylie Louw said. "We missed opportunities early to put us in the lead and lost some momentum in the 2nd half. We will feel the loss today and start the week off fresh tomorrow."
The 'Jacks brought their game out during the first half of the game, finding crosses and connections on the Viking's side of the field, shutting out Portland State. However, they were unable to sneak the ball past the keeper.
Paige Maling and
Whitney Winans each took two of the ten total shots during the first.
Mei-Te Coco,
Kayla Terhune,
Tatum Heeres,
Sam Larberg and
Abby Donathan all took one shot respectively.
Three players, Heeres, Larberg and Winans all forced PSU's goalkeeper, Enya Hernandez, to make a save to keep the score neutral in the first.
Taryn Benham only made two saves out of the four shots the Vikings took during the first. She continued to record three more saves during the second, totaling at five.
At the half, the Vikings came out more urgently, taking 11 shots during the second compared to the four in the first.
Just five minutes before the end of regulation, PSU's Sienna Higinbotham scored the game winning goal for Portland State.
The 'Jacks wrapped up the game outshooting Portland State 17 to 15, with Northern Arizona recording eight shots on-goal compared to their six on-goal. Maling took the most shots at three with one on-goal.
Kiana Miyazato,
Kalea Gurfield, and Winans totaled out to two shots, one on-goal each.
"Our coaching staff will go back to the drawing board and prepare the team in the best way possible for 2 strong teams in Flagstaff next weekend," Louw said. "Looking forward to being back on home ground."
NAU (5-5-2, 1-1-1 Big Sky) will continue their Big Sky contests as they head home to play the University of Montana on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. and University of Northern Colorado on Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.
