FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 19, 2022) - The Northern Arizona Women's Soccer team is hosting Sacramento State and Portland State this weekend to close out the regular season, all with a Big Sky regular season championship on the line.
The Lumberjacks have six different scenarios in which they could be crowned as regular season champions of the Big Sky, three of those include NAU being outright championships and three as co-champions.
On a five match win streak, the 'Jacks could also close in on tying a program high of seven conference wins in a season. That record was previously set by the 2013 Lumberjacks squad who went 7-3 in Big Sky play.
NAU is coming off of a big road weekend, where the Lumberjacks took down the defending regular season champions in the Northern Colorado Bears. NAU claimed the 1-0 shutout victory in Greeley before knocking Montana 2-1 in Missoula. NAU's win at Montana was the programs first win to the Griz since 2013. The pair of wins brought NAU to the top of the Big Sky standings for the first time this season.
The Lumberjacks have found offensive success through many players this season, being the only team in the Big Sky with three players in the top ten for points. Those three players being Maddie shafer (14), Allison Veloz (11), and Dai Williams (10). Veloz had her second multi-goal game of the season in Montana, scoring the game-winner plus another to top the Griz.
NAU's goalkeeper Trinity Corcoran has found herself amongst the nation's best this season. Corcoran is No. 17 in the country in save percentage at 0.864, No. 18 in goals allowed average at 0.545, and No. 27 in the country in shutouts with 7. Corcoran's 7 shutouts puts her at No. 5 all time for single season shutouts at NAU.
Rylie Curran earned her second career Big Sky defensive player of the week as Curran helped hold Northern Colorado and Montana to just 5 shots on goal combined. Curran has played a vital role in NAU's defensive efforts, highlighted by just two goals allowed in conference play.
The Sacramento State Hornets are coming off two huge wins on the road, taking down Eastern Washington and Idaho in both 2-1 matches. The Hornets were trailing the Vandals 1-0 with six minutes left in the match before the team was able to turn around the narrative and score two to secure the victory.
Ariana Nino was the hero in the comeback victory, scoring the equalizer in the 83rd minute, and assisting Danna Restom's game-winner in the 88th minute. Aubrey Goodwill leads the Hornets in points with 11, coming from four goals and three assists. Goodwill currently holds a shots on goal percentage of 0.727.
In goal for Sacramento is Mia Shalit who has played every single minute for the Hornets, making 80 saves and recording a save percentage of 0.748. Shalit has allowed 27 goals this season.
The Lumberjacks and Hornets last saw each other on the pitch at the 2021 Big Sky conference championships, where the Hornets earned the 1-0 win in the semifinal matchup. The Lumberjacks have only ever dropped one match to Sacramento in Flagstaff, leading the series 14-9-5.
Portland State is 4-1-2 in Big Sky play, coming off of one loss to Idaho, and one tie at Eastern Washington. The Vikings are led by Abi Hoffman who has five goals and one assist for a team high 11 points through the season. Hoffman's last goal came against Eastern Washington. The sophomore has a SOG% of 0.536 through 16 matches.
The Vikings have split time for goalkeepers in conference play, between Enya Hernandez and Sidney O'billovich. Hernandez has allowed 12 goals while holding a save percentage of 0.676 while O'billovich has allowed 14 goals and holds a save percentage of 0.763.
The 'Jacks and the Viks last saw each other in 2021's regular season closer in Portland, as NAU secured the 2-1 victory. The Lumberjacks lead the all-time series 15-8-5, with the last lost coming in 2019 on the road. NAU has won the last two matches against Portland State in Flagstaff.
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