POCATELLO, Idaho (October 2, 2022) - The Lumberjacks recorded their first Big Sky Conference victory Sunday, with a 1-0 shutout win against the Idaho State Bengals.
Freshman Katie Willoughby earned the start today, creating her first opportunity early on. Willoughby started the action for the 'Jacks just three minutes into the match, sending a pass from the right side of ISU's box. Dai Williams sent a tipped pass back to Willoughby who put the first shot on goal for NAU, saved by Bengals goalkeeper Kelsey Jargstorf.
Julie Lind scored her first career goal as a Lumberjack, coming off a smart pass up the left side from Maddie Shafer. Shafer drove up the field, finding Lind who saw her opportunity and scored from the top right corner of the net. Shafer's assist ties her with Williams for most points on the team, with ten a piece. Shafer moved into second in the conference in assists with four total.
In similar fashion, Mikhail Johnson saw her chance in the 28th minute of the match. Johnson put a shot up to the top right corner of the next, as Jargstorf made the diving save. The save bounced back out of ISU's possession, quickly cleared to the left side of the field by a Bengal defender.
NAU held on to the 1-0 lead up into halftime, while holding Idaho State to zero shots on goal. The Lumberjacks put up six shots on goal in the first 45 minutes.
Looking to further the first half offensive momentum, the 'Jacks picked back up quickly into the second half. NAU was awarded a corner kick from the right side in the 50th minute, where Rylie Curran took the kick, sending the pass into the box. Curran connected with Williams, who put a quick shot into the bottom left corner, forcing ISU to make the save.
In Trinity Corcoran's Sunday start, her first save did not come until the 54th minute of the match. Corcoran faced a quick shot from outside the left side of the box from Emerson Grafton, recording her first save in the shutout victory.
Randalyn Hunter connected with Karli Burton with fifteen minutes left in the match. Burton launched a tough shot from the right side, as the ball floated out just over the top bar of the goal.
As Idaho State made its final pushes for the equalizer in the match, Virginia Wallace sent a quick shot from the left side, forcing Corcoran to step out to make her third save of the match.
The Lumberjacks are headed back home to Flagstaff this week as they will host Eastern Washington and Idaho at Lumberjack Stadium on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
