FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 16, 2022) - The NCAA regular season for soccer is kicking off this week, as the Lumberjacks host Utah State and Utah Tech in Thursday and Sunday matches.
Thursday night's match facing Utah State will start at 7 p.m. MST, and will be available to stream through ESPN+. The match will have live stats available here.
Sunday night's match facing Utah Tech will start at 1 p.m. MST and will be available to stream through ESPN+. The match will have live stats available here.
NAU is coming off two exhibition matches that allowed them to find rhythm and play around with lineups with 15 newcomers joining the squad.
Through both exhibition matches all three goalies, Trinity Corcoran, Natalie Manzo, and Ashley Williams saw playing time for the 'Jacks. Each proved themselves in different aspects, leaving the starting position up for grabs in competition.
Senior Taylor Gomez made her return to the pitch after rehabbing back from injury and quickly found success. Game checked into Sunday nights match against Hawaii and second later scored NAU's first goal of the season off a free kick right outside the box from a Hawaii foul.
Utah State opens their season on the road in Flagstaff this week before heading back home to host Idaho State on Sunday. USU was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West in the preseason coaches' poll, after ending last season with a 13-6-3 record.
The Aggies made it to the semifinal matchup in the Mountain West championships where they lost to New Mexico in a 2-1 double overtime match.
The Lumberjacks and the Aggies last met in August of 2021, which was also NAU's season opener. NAU held the Aggies to two goals while Corcoran made two saves and Manzo made six saves. NAU ultimately fell 2-1 to the Aggies, while putting up eight shots on goal. USU holds the series advantage as the series record sits at 3-5 for NAU.
Utah Tech will head to Flagstaff for the first time in program history, after opening their season Thursday night at Colorado State. The Trailblazers were picked to finish eighth in the Western Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll.
The Blazers finished the 2021 season with a 6-13-1 record, only picking up two conference wins and keeping the team out of the WAC championships.
NAU and UTU last met in St.George in September of 2021, where NAU earned the 2-0 win. NAU's top returner Maddie Shafer scored the first goal of the match in the 60th minute, leading to the Lumberjacks first road win of the 2021 season. Corcoran made two saves while Manzo came in and made four saves in the match.
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