FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 30, 2023) – Northern Arizona soccer (9-5-3, 4-3-1 Big Sky) will take on the Sacramento State Hornets (4-8-5, 2-3-3 Big Sky) on Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the Big Sky Soccer Championships, all taking place in Flagstaff, Ariz. at Lumberjack Stadium.
The game will kick off at 6 p.m. MST, while streamed on
ESPN+ and live stats can be followed
here. The Big Sky tournament berth marks eight straight seasons in the tournament for the Jacks, with the last time NAU did not make a tournament appearance coming in 2015.
The two teams will meet for the second time this season, the first in Flagstaff in 2023, after the Hornets earned a 1-0 victory in California to open up conference play for both teams earlier this season. The Hornets goal came on a penalty kick, as Abigail Lopez scored on the left corner of the box in what was just one of two shots on goal for the Hornets through the entire match.
The Lumberjacks have only ever dropped one match to the Hornets in Flagstaff, coincidentally being the last time Northern Arizona hosted the Big Sky Tournament in Flagstaff on Nov. 7 in the championship match.
The last time the Hornets came to Flagstaff, the Jacks were able to clinch at least a share of the Big Sky's regular season title with a 2-0 shutout victory where
Avery Ott netted her fourth of the season and
Josie Novak tabbed her fifth of the season.
Trinity Corcoran collected 5 saves for her eighth shutout of the season.
The Jacks had seven all-conference honors come in with
Maddie Shafer and
Allie Larsen named to first team while
Logan Maszton,
Trinity Corcoran,
Josie Novak,
Allison Veloz, and
Dai Williams named to second team.
Larsen is the only player to make all 17 starts for the Jacks this season, while being one of just three field players to record 1,300 plus minutes in the regular season. Leading the team offensively, Veloz has netted six goals including three game-winners and three conference goals against Weber State, Idaho State, and Northern Colorado, scoring in three consecutive matches. Shafer leads the team in points with five goals including three game-winners and two assists while recording 14 starts and holding a SOG% of
.421.
In goal, Corcoran has recorded five shutouts, four solo, in a team-high 1,127 minutes in goal for the Lumberjacks. Corcoran's goals against average ranks second in the conference while her .833 save percentage also ranks second amongst Big Sky institutions.
The Hornets are led on the offensive side of the stat sheet by Abigail Lopez who has netted 4 goals this season, with the most recent coming against Northern Colorado in the team's second match of Big Sky play. Lopez earned first-team honors on the Big Sky's all-conference team. Izzy Palmatier leads the team in goal, with a goals against average of 1.50 and a save percentage of .767. The redshirt freshman has made 66 saves for the Hornets.
To stay up to date with the Lumberjacks through the Big Sky Tournament, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
