NAU Soccer Draws Double Overtime Tie, 2-2, in First Match Against Northern Colorado

GREELEY, Colo., (April 3, 2021) – The Northern Arizona women's soccer program headed into the weekend series against Northern Colorado with a perfect 5-0 Big Sky Conference record. The Lumberjacks and Bears drew both their first tie of the season of 2-2 in Jackson Stadium today, coming away with league records of 5-0-1 for NAU and 2-0-1 for UNC.

Both teams had explosive energy in the second half of the match after a quiet first. The two went 0-0 during the initial 45 minutes, scoring all the goals in the latter.

NAU's defense kept UNC limited to just one shot during the initial half. As the 'Jacks pushed away the Bears attackers for 42 straight minutes, with only three left, Taryn Benham made her first save of the match.

The Lumberjacks continue to prove their tenacious attacking style they've had so far this season. Northern Arizona led Northern Colorado with eight shots, five being on UNC's goal, just in the first half. 

However, momentum shifted for both teams at the break. 

Northern Arizona's leading goal scorer, Madison Montgomery, earned her third career brace in the match against Northern Colorado. The junior scored for the 'Jacks six minutes out of the gate in the 52nd minute and again in the 79th. 

With eight goals to her name, Montgomery breaks her previous season high of seven goals and also leads the conference in scoring. The Lumberjack has scored at least four more goals than three different players in the Big Sky. 

Even with the two goals, NAU was stunted by UNC's offensive pressure during this half. Northern Arizona was limited to three shots on goal, all the attacking opportunities put forth by Montgomery. 

With ten shots, Northern Colorado forced NAU to kick it up defensively. The Bears attempted five shots on goal, creating two scoring opportunities late in the second half.

The first goal would be scored by Kalen Niedling in the 82nd minute of the game. The second goal, tallied by the UNC team, ten seconds before the end of the period, pushed the Big Sky opponents into overtime. 

Ultimately, both teams looked for the game winning goal, but left game one with a 2-2 draw. The two fought equally, each attempting two shots and forcing one save from either goalkeeper in the last 20 minutes of play.

The Lumberjacks and the Bears will go head to head again on Monday, April 5 at 11 a.m. MST. As NAU (6-1-1, 5-0-1 Big Sky) and UNC (2-1-1, 2-0-1 Big Sky) still hold unbeaten league records, the teams will be gunning for the No. 1 and No. 2 seed into the conference championship, hosted by Weber State in Ogden Utah, April 15-17.