Maddie Shafer
Wes Salonen

Women's Soccer Katie Rapp, NAU Athletic Communications

NAU Soccer Finishing Spring Season Slate With Pair of Games at Northern Colorado Saturday and Monday

Northern Arizona vs. Northern Colorado
GAME 9 Northern Arizona vs. Northern Colorado (Saturday, April 3 | 1 p.m. MST)
GAME 10 Northern Arizona vs. Northern Colorado (Monday, April 5 | 11 a.m. MST)
LOCATION Greeley, Colo. | Jackson Stadium
Live Stats  | Watch Live (PlutoTV)
FOLLOW US NAU Soccer on Facebook | NAU Soccer on Twitter | NAU Soccer on Instagram
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 1, 2021) – Northern Arizona women's soccer is finishing its regular season and Big Sky Conference schedule this upcoming Saturday and Monday with two matches in Greeley, Colo. against the defending 2019 Big Sky Champions, the University of Northern Colorado.

Northern Colorado will host the Lumberjacks at Jackson Stadium on Saturday, April 3 at 1 p.m. MST and again Monday, April 5 at 11 a.m. MST. The matches will be available for viewing on PlutoTV as well as on live stats. 

Overall, the Lumberjacks lead UNC 10-8 in all-time play. However, the Bears do have the home advantage, earning a 6-2 Jackson Stadium record over the 'Jacks. 

The two last went head-to-head in the first round of the 2019 Big Sky Championship in Greeley, with UNC finishing on top 2-1 in an overtime win. The Bears continued to move up and were ultimately crowned as the Champions in the last fall season.

NAU currently leads the conference with a perfect 5-0 record. In the regular season, the 'Jacks are 6-1, taking their first non conference win over Grand Canyon, 2-0, on Feb. 7 and their only loss this season to Arizona, 0-3, on Feb. 20.

Since the initial and only loss, Northern Arizona has been on a five game winning streak, all against southeast division conference opponents.

While Northern Arizona is finishing its Big Sky slate in Colo., Northern Colorado has only played in two league matches. UNC (2-1, 2-0 Big Sky) has appeared in three matches this spring after the cancellation of its two matches against Southern Utah due to inclement weather. 

The Bears shutout Idaho State twice just a week after the cancelled matches. On Friday, March 19, Northern Colorado earned a 2-0 win and followed with a 1-0 victory on Sunday. 

UNC's Kaitlyn Meeder and Lexi Pulley were the two scorers during Friday evening's match for the Bears, while Sunday's score was from a team goal. 

In total, the Bears tallied 24 shots, 11 on goal over the Bengals throughout the weekend. In comparison, ISU had six, including three on target.

However, NAU had even more offensive power than UNC did against Idaho State when the two met last weekend. With a total of 30 shots, 14 being on goal, Northern Arizona scored four goals over the two days. 

Madison Montgomery earned her second season and second career brace in the first match against Idaho State, setting the 'Jacks up to win 2-1 over the Bengals. In the second match, Montgomery scored the second goal of the match to secure the 2-0 shutout victory. After scoring three of the four goals for NAU, Montgomery earned her first Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week nod.

Montgomery now leads NAU in goals with six, points with 13, shots with 17 and records a shot on goal percentage of 0.588. The junior, native to Colorado Springs, Colo., is close to tying her season high in goals of seven, the amount she had during the 2019 fall season.

In addition to Montgomery's success, senior goalkeeper Taryn Benham broke NAU's all-time clean sheet record after marking her 22nd career shutout. Benham will hope to keep adding onto the tally as she faces Northern Colorado this week.

While the Bears have proven to be a tough opponent after securing the 2019 title and earning two league wins, NAU looks strong after its five straight conference victories and offensive attacking strategy against the same opponents.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Madison Montgomery

#6 Madison Montgomery

F
5' 7"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Madison Montgomery

#6 Madison Montgomery

5' 7"
Senior
F