FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Sept. 7, 2023) – With just three non-conference matches left on the Lumberjacks (2-2-2) schedule, NAU will split the away and home games this weekend, looking to pick up their third victory of the season.
The Lumberjacks are coming off a split 1-0-1 weekend where the team defeated Pac-12 opponent Oregon, 3-2 at home before bringing home a 1-1 draw from Southern Utah on Sunday. NAU's win against Oregon marked the team's first power five victory since 2001.
The Lumberjacks have seven players who each have scored a goal this season, with senior
Maddie Shafer leading the pack in points with one goal and one assist a piece.
Josie Novak is the latest Lumberjack to find the back of the net, scoring her first this season to tie things up at Southern Utah last Sunday.
NAU's trip to Utah Tech will be the two team's second-ever meeting, originally slated for last year in Flagstaff before the game was ultimately canceled due to weather. NAU leads to overall series 1-0. Utah Tech (2-3-1) is coming off back-to-back shutout losses to Montana and No. 24 Gonzaga.
In their last time out, Gonzaga wasted no time in breaking this game open, scoring just 25 seconds after the game kicked off before adding a second three minutes later. After surviving the early pressure, McKinley Barney found a look from outside the box and forced a save from the Bulldog 'keeper with a shot in the 23rd minute. Brynlee Rider added another shot on goal in the 35th but Utah Tech was unable to score. Brianna Frey set a career-best mark for saves with eight in the first half alone; Gonzaga led 2-0 at the break, finishing with 12 total.
The San Diego Toreros (1-3-1) are also coming off of back-to-back losses as the team dropped 5-0 at Washington and 1-0 at New Mexico. The Toreros will head to Cal State Fullerton today to take on the Titans before heading up to Flagstaff for Sunday's matchup.
San Diego leads the overall series 2-0-1, with the program's last victory to NAU coming in 2005. Last season the two teams tied in California, 1-1 where NAU's
Dai Williams scored her fourth goal of the season in the 82
nd minute of the match. San Diego is currently led offensively by Lexi Zandonella-Arasa who has scored San Diego's lone goal of the season. In goal, Sophine Kevorkian has recorded 24 saves while allowing 10 goals and started all five matches for the Toreros.
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