FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 12, 2023) – After a battle of defense, the Lumberjacks (8-4-3, 3-2-1 Big Sky) dropped 2-1 to the Montana Grizzlies (10-2-3, 4-0-1 Big Sky) on Thursday night.
"I thought we had one of the best second halves that we have played all year to be honest. We were the better team in the second half, and I told the team I'm super proud of them, sometimes soccer is a cruel game," head coach
Alan Berrios said.
The first half was a back-and-forth game between the two teams as each team split time of possession evenly while everyone settled in. The Jacks found the back of the net first to start things off as
Molly Massman netted her second goal of the season against her former home of Montana.
Allie Larsen sent a boot into the box from the right side, taking a deflection off a Montana defender, Massman gained control outside the box and quickly put her shot on for the Jacks 1-0 lead.
The Griz were able to respond in the 18
th minute as Skyleigh Thompson won the ball around midfield and made a run towards Lumberjack territory. Thompson sent a high shot in from just outside of NAU's box, hitting the top left corner of the goal to tie things up.
Through the first 45 minutes of play, Montana led the shot count 6-5 forcing
Trinity Corcoran to make three stops while Griz keeper Ashlyn Dvorak made one stop ahead of the break.
Coming out of halftime the Griz were awarded an early corner kick just 23 seconds into play, while the Lumberjacks cleared the ball out and began the counterattack. Down the field,
Maddie Shafer put a shot on for NAU as Dvorak picked up her second save of the match.
The Jacks were able to create more offensive opportunities through the second half, outshooting Montana 18-12, however unable to convert.
With six and a half minutes remaining in the match, the Griz were awarded a free kick off a handball call made by the head referee. Ava Samuelson stepped up to take the kick from about twenty feet outside NAU's box, connecting with Delaney Lou Schorr who got a head on it for the go-ahead goal.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action next weekend to close out Big Sky Conference regular season play while taking on the Idaho Vandals and the Eastern Washington Eagles on the road.
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