Full 2023 Schedule
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (June 22, 2023) – The Defending Big Sky Champions will host 11 home matches at Lumberjack Stadium, as the team announces the 2023 season schedule set to kick off on Aug. 10 against Arizona Western in an exhibition match. All regular season home games are free and open to the public.
The Lumberjacks will return to the pitch after a historic season where the Lumberjacks wrote their name in the record book as the only team in program history to claim both the regular season and tournament championships in the same season. The 2023 season will mark head coach
Alan Berrios' first season at the head of the program after serving as interim head coach in 2022. Alongside Berrios are assistant coaches
Chris Campbell (4
th season), and Ray Leone (1
st season).
"Going into the 2023 season we felt like we had to put together a schedule that was properly balanced, challenging, and exciting at the same time. The only way to prepare for a brutal conference schedule is to get tested early during our out of conference schedule," Berrios said.
Beginning the season with back-to-back home exhibition matches, NAU will host Arizona Western on Aug. 10 and Embry Riddle on Aug. 12 with both matches set to begin at 7 p.m. MST.
"Starting off with an early road trip to UTEP and UNM on Aug 17 and Aug 20 provides just that. Two quality opponents that will give us the opportunity to see where we are at early on," Berrios said.
The Jacks will begin the regular season slate on the road on Aug. 17 at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) at 4 p.m. MST. This will be the sixth all-time matchup between the two teams, as UTEP leads the series 4-1. NAU has the most recent win, taking a 1-0 victory in double overtime in 2014 on the road. Before heading back to Flagstaff, NAU will head to New Mexico to take on the Lobos on Aug. 20 for a 12:30 p.m. MST match start. The Jacks will look to avenge their 2021 6-2 neutral site loss to the Lobos, marking the last time the two teams went head-to-head.
"Then we come home to a three-game home stand where we play three very good teams in Cal St. Bakersfield, Arizona, and Oregon. We hope that this three-game home stand gives us a clear vision of what we need to do going forward," Berrios said. "Hosting opponents like Arizona and Oregon here at Lumberjack Stadium gives us an opportunity to play in front of what we hope to be a jam-packed stadium. It is always fun to play our in-state rivals. Especially at home. LJ is a special place. The support we get from our student body, family, and friends here at home is second to none."
NAU will begin a three-game home stretch from Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, highlighted by two Pac-12 opponents in Arizona and Oregon. The Jacks will begin the home stretch with a Cal State Bakersfield matchup on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. MST. On Aug. 27, the Wildcats will head up North for a 1 p.m. MST game start. NAU and Arizona last saw each other in an exhibition match in Flagstaff last season where the Cats took the 1-0 victory. Hosting Oregon for the first time in program history, the two teams will play their second matchup ever on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. MST. NAU played the Ducks for the first time in 2021, falling 4-2 where both
Trinity Corcoran and
Natalie Manzo saw time in the box as Corcoran made one save and Manzo recorded six.
Heading into September, NAU will begin with two games on the road at Southern Utah on Sept. 3 and Utah Tech on Sept. 8. The Sept. 3 game against the Thunderbirds will start at 12 p.m. MST, with the Sept. 8 game against the trailblazers set to start at 4 p.m. MST.
NAU will return home for two final non-conference matchups, taking on the University of San Diego on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. MST. The Jacks played at San Diego last season, with the match ending in a tie after
Dai Williams put a shot in the back of the net in the 82
nd minute of the match. Just a week later, NAU will host LMU at 1 p.m. MST on Sept. 17.
"We are confident by the time we get to Big Sky play, our team will be battle tested and ready to face the task at hand. We are looking forward to a great season, one that will end with the Big Sky Tournament right here in Flagstaff," Berrios said.
Big Sky Conference schedule will begin for the Jacks on Sept. 22 on the road at Sacramento State with a start time of 1:30 p.m. MST. The Jacks will look to repeat the 2022 undefeated conference slate as they take on the Hornets to kick things off. Heading to Portland State, NAU and the Vikings will match up at 1 p.m. MST. The Jacks clinched the 2022 regular season title outright against PSU with a 3-0 victory at home in the two teams last matchup.
Beginning the four-game long home stretch, and the Jacks final four matches at home, NAU will host Weber State, Idaho State, Northern Colorado, and Montana in the season's longest home stretch. Weber State will come to NAU on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. MST, Idaho State on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. MST, Northern Colorado on Oct. 8 at 12 p.m. MST, and Montana o Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. MST.
Closing out the regular season on the road, the Lumberjacks will take on Eastern Washington on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. MST before heading to Idaho on Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. MST. The Jacks and the Vandals last met in the 2022 Big Sky Championship where NAU claimed the Big Sky title after PK's.
Northern Arizona will be the host institution for the 2023 Big Sky Tournament, which is set to take place in Flagstaff in November with dates yet to be announced by the conference.
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