NAU Soccer Takes 3-1 Victory Against LMU Into Conference Play

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 17, 2023) - The Lumberjacks (5-2-2) earned their third straight victory Sunday against the Loyola Marymount Lions in a high scoring first half, in 3-1 fashion.
 
"It was another great win I thought, they are a very great team, we watched a ton of film on them, and they had a tough game against GCU," head coach Alan Berrios said. "The way we responded after going down one nothing is exactly what we keep asking of the team."
 
With all four goals of the match coming in the first half, LMU's lone goal came in the first four minutes as the Lions were able to execute quickly and Kylie Dobbs found her third goal of the season through traffic in NAU's box. The Lions goal came with only ten active players on the field as the referee sent a LMU player off the field for a uniform issue.
 
The Lumberjacks settled in and quickly responded to tie things up just three minutes later. NAU's Logan Maszton sent a flip-throw in near LMU's box from the right side of the field but was ultimately cleared out from a Lion defender. Allie Larsen intercepted the ball, finding a route down the right side and connected with Allison Veloz just in front of the Lions keeper, Elli Sommers. Veloz's goal marked her second consecutive match scoring, and third overall of the season.
 
In the 35^th minute of the match, NAU was awarded a penalty kick after a LMU defender was called for a handball inside the box. NAU's Maddie Shafer stepped up to take the kick, finding the back of the net to put the Lumberjacks in the lead at 2-1. Shafer's PK goal marked her first of the season.
 
It was just two minutes later that the Lumberjacks extended their lead to two goals. Maszton took her famous flip throw in, once again from the right side, as Josie Novak got the header goal on the other end of it for her second goal of the season.
 
Trinity Corcoran got the nod for the start for the Jacks, playing a full 45-minute half while recording one save.
 
NAU was able to display the roster depth in the second half, as 10 subs checked in throughout the second 45 minutes of the match and quickly were able to create plays and opportunities for the Jacks. Natalie Manzo played the second half in goal for NAU, impressing the Flagstaff crowd with four saves to back up the team's lead.
 
Manzo faced back-to-back shots in the 69^th minute of the match, picking up two almost identical saves in the box. Kailey Park took a free kick from outside the box, putting her shot on in the middle of the goal as Manzo picked up the bounce. Moments later, Jennessa Groves saw her opportunity and went head-to-head with Manzo as the Junior picked up the diving save.
 
The Lumberjacks outshot the Lions 13-10. NAU will now head into Big Sky Conference play with three straight victories under their belts. The Jacks will head on the road to face the Sacramento State Hornets on Friday and the Portland State Vikings on Sunday.
 
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