FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 1, 2021) - After a long 677 days since playing at Lumberjack Stadium, the Northern Arizona soccer team returns home to face GCU Friday night. The team will welcome fans back at full capacity for the fall season.
The match on Friday night will be 'White Out' themed, encouraging fans to all wear white gear and pack Lumberjack Stadium. The game will start at 7 p.m. MST, and you can watch it live on ESPN+ here.
The Lumberjacks have faced four tough programs in their first matches of the season, resulting in an 0-4 record. Along with those losses comes lessons learned and confidence being built back up as the team finds their momentum. Freshmen goalkeepers, Trinity Corcoran and Natalie Manzo, have each started two games and allowed five goals. Manzo has seen 260 minutes and a save percentage of 0.815, while Corcoran has recorded 109 minutes and a save percentage of 0.444.Â
Offensively, the Lumberjacks have proven they can create plenty of scoring opportunities. Midfielder Maddie Shafer has looked hungry to score a goal, with seven shots that have ultimately been defended well by NAU opponents. NAU's five goals of the season come from Sam Larberg, Madison Montgomery, Kylie Kapustka and Rylee Mitchell, and one on an own goal from Utah State forced by Emilie Bennett. The team looks to create more chances to score by capitalizing on set pieces and finding more defensive control with the ball.Â
NAU will take on GCU for the ninth time, and the Lumberjacks lead the series 6-2, with both losses being recorded at Grand Canyon. The series dates back to 1998, when the Lumberjacks and the Lopes played for the first time, resulting in a 5-2 Northern Arizona win. The last time the teams faced off was in February at Grand Canyon and the Lumberjacks took the 2-0 win.Â
Grand Canyon has seen early success in its season, going 3-1 in matches so far. The team opened up their regular season with wins against Southeastern Louisiana (3-0), Central Arkansas (5-0), and Incarnate Word (1-0). The Lopes' most recent match was played in Texas at UTSA, where the team was handed their first loss of the season (1-0).Â
GCU's leading goal scorer is redshirt junior Dani Babb, with two goals, both coming in the first two matches. The offensive success for Grand Canyon is highlighted with eight other players with one goal each. Sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson has stepped into the starting position after finding late success for the Lopes in the spring season and earning the start in the last 10 games. Ferguson recorded a 7-2-1 record in her 10 starts with 42 saves and a save percentage of 0.792.
