FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 27, 2024) – NAU Soccer makes its Lumberjack Stadium debut for the season this Thursday, hosting Pennsylvania for the first time in program history. Both teams will be entering Thursday night's matchup with sights set on the first victory of the season.
NAU will open Lumberjack Stadium coming off the single-season attendance record which was set at 8,276 while breaking three top 25 single-game attendance records in the last two years. The Jacks' home opener is set to kick off at 7 p.m. MST and can be streamed
here.
The Quakers will make the 2,362-mile trip to NAU before heading to Arizona State for a Sunday afternoon matchup, marking the longest road trip for UPenn this season. NAU will play on its home field for the first time while playing the third-straight match in the state of Arizona.
Rolling into their lone match of the week, the Jacks will look for back-to-back home opener victories after earning a 3-2 win over UTEP during the 2023 campaign. Goalkeeper
Natalie Manzo recorded five saves in last season's home opener.
NAU's lone goal through the first two contests came from
Deniah Wells, earning her first career Big Sky player of the week honors while ending a 22-year losing streak against the Sundevils.
Avery Ott found Wells inside the box to initialize the 82
nd-minute equalizer as the Jacks took advantage of ASU's keeper creeping off her line as Wells snuck in her first-career goal with the Lumberjacks.
The Quakers suffered a 1-0 loss on the road at Villanova, the first leg of their five-match road skid to start the season, before falling 2-1 at Drexel on Sunday, Aug. 25. Penn attempted seven shots through 90 minutes of play at Villanova with freshman Lily White put up the lone shot on goal. Three seniors, Maya Leschly, Clare Robke, and Isabella Zulli all recorded 90-minute matches against Drexel, as the team recorded three shots on goal.
Mila Maltby recorded her first-collegiate goal in the 72
nd minute at Drexel, finding a shot from about 30 yards out and scoring in the right upper corner. Junior keeper Annabel Austen has started the season with six saves in two matches, while allowing three goals.
Following Thursday's match, the Lumberjacks will return to play next Thursday, Sept. 5 to host Utah Tech at 7 p.m. MST. To stay up to date with NAU Soccer, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
