FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 13, 2024) – NAU Soccer (2-6-4, 2-2) dropped a thriller to the Idaho Vandals (9-4-2, 3-1-1) on Sunday afternoon in a 3-2 final at Lumberjack Stadium.
It was a game full of set piece chances for both programs, as all five goals scored in Sunday's match came off free or penalty kicks. Sunday's final also marks the second time this season the Jacks have found a multi-goal game, as the team has scored six goals in the last three Big Sky matches.
Erin O'Connor got the Jacks offensive efforts rolling early, with her first goal of the 2024 campaign as well as first goal since scoring against Oregon last season. The Jacks took advantage of the free kick opportunity, sending the ball into traffic inside the box as
Deniah Wells connected with O'Connor who snuck past Paula Flores to take the early 1-0 lead.
About six minutes later, the Vandals would convert on a free kick from Alyssa Peter as Annika Farley got a head on it first to even the score at 1-1. Peters assist broke the Big Sky Conference assist record with 28 career assists total.
Coming out of halftime, the Lumberjacks would continue off first-half momentum, quickly challenging the Idaho defense putting five shots in the first ten minutes back to action. The Vandals would find their footing in the 65
th minute to take the lead as Peters free kick from about 25 yards out found the top right corner. Just five minutes later the Vandals would grab a two-goal lead as Peters grabbed a second assist of the game, connecting with Sienna Gonzalez inside the box.
"I think that our response was good and that's all you can ask for as a coach being down 3-1 and I thought it was a good fight there with a good team," head coach
Alan Berrios said.
The Lumberjacks continued to push the Vandals, as
Joey Lujan would set up back-to-back free kick opportunities just left of Idaho's box, earning a penalty kick for a handball call in the 85
th minute of play.
Micala Boex, who recorded a full 90 minutes today, would convert on the PK, cutting the Vandal lead to one with four minutes to go.
Flores finished with five saves on the day in the Vandals third league victory of the season, while
Trinity Corcoran picked up four stops for the Jacks. Northern Arizona will remain in Flagstaff next week for the final two home matches of the season as NAU will host Portland State on Friday night at 6 p.m. MST, and Sacramento State at 1 p.m. MST on Sunday in a pair of homecoming weekend showdowns.
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