Soccer April 13, 2021 Katie Rapp, NAU Athletic Communications

Big Sky Honors Six Northern Arizona Soccer Student-Athletes with Postseason Conference Accolades

FARMINGTON, Utah (April 13, 2021) – The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks were honored with eight postseason conference accolades across six student-athletes today by the Big Sky. At least one NAU student-athlete was named to each all-conference team, with Madison Montgomery receiving three separate mentions.

Montgomery, the conference's leading goal scorer with eight goals, earns First Team All-Conference honors, as well as the Co-Offensive MVP and the Golden Boot individual awards. As the Golden Boot winner, Montgomery led the conference with the most points at 17.

Additionally, Montgomery leads the conference in game-winners with three, in shots per game at 3.25, and averages one goal per game. The junior is second in the conference in shot attempts, recording 26 behind the Co-Offensive MVP, Idaho's Myah Merino, who posted 30.

The junior out of Colorado Springs, Colo., posted three braces throughout the season. Ultimately totaling out to eight goals, Montgomery scored half of NAU's 16 total goals this spring.

Montgomery was named as the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week on March 29 after scoring three of the four goals against Idaho State on March 28.

Alongside Montgomery, senior Paige Maling was also named to Big Sky's First Team. Maling was NAU's second leading goal scorer, packing in her second career brace against Southern Utah for the 'Jacks to win their third straight conference win.

Maling also led Northern Arizona in assists, finding two in the first match of the season against Grand Canyon on Feb. 7. With the aides in scoring and helping NAU to start its season off positively, Maling received the first Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week mention.

This is the second time Maling has been honored on a Big Sky postseason conference team. After the 2019 year, as a junior, Maling was part of the Second Team.

In addition to First Team recognition, NAU's Taryn Benham, Rylie Curran, and Abby Donathan all secured Second Team nods.
Curran and Donathan, as sophomore defenders, both received their first postseason conference awards for the first time in their NAU careers.

Even as a defender, Curran recorded a single assist as well as two shots throughout her nine matches started. The sophomore from San Diego, Calif., recorded 803 minutes of play out on the field representing the Blue and Gold.

Donathan tallied the first goal of the season for NAU against GCU back in February for the Lumberjacks to earn their first 2-0 shutout of the spring. Donathan would end the regular season with a total of three shots, one goal, and over 650 minutes of game play.

Benham broke Northern Arizona's all-time shutout record this spring. With a total of four shutouts, Benham will end her regular season career with a total of 22 clean sheets, the most of any NAU keeper.

Emma Robson received an Honorable Mention from the Big Sky. This marks as the second time Robson has been named by the Big Sky as an Honorable mention, with the last being in her sophomore year.

NAU holds the No. 1 spot in the Southeast Division as they head to the Big Sky Conference Championship in Ogden, Utah. The Lumberjacks will play in the first match of the championship series against the Northwest No. 2, Idaho, on Thursday, April 15 at 11 a.m.

First Team
Madison Montgomery, Forward
Paige Maling, Midfielder

Second Team
Taryn Benham, Goalkeeper
Rylie Curran, Defender
Abby Donathan, Defender

Honorable Mention
Emma Robson, Defender

Individual Awards
Co-Offensive MVP – Madison Montgomery
Golden Boot – Madison Montgomery

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Players Mentioned

#14 Rylie Curran: D; 5' 4"; Junior

#16 Abby Donathan: D; 5' 3"; Junior

#6 Madison Montgomery: F; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#14 Rylie Curran
: 5' 4"; Junior
: D

#16 Abby Donathan
: 5' 3"; Junior
: D

#6 Madison Montgomery
: 5' 7"; Senior
: F

Players Mentioned

#14 Rylie Curran

#16 Abby Donathan

#6 Madison Montgomery

Players Mentioned

#14 Rylie Curran

#16 Abby Donathan

#6 Madison Montgomery