FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 27, 2024) – Northern Arizona soccer (0-4-4) will get the first taste of Big Sky Conference play this season with a trip to Missoula to take on the Montana Griz (6-2-2) on Sunday afternoon.
Looking for the first victory of the season, NAU's trip to Montana will also give them an early look at the 2024 Big Sky Soccer Tournament host field. The Jacks are coming off back-to-back 0-0 draws with the one-loss New Mexico Lobos and the Southern Utah Thunderbirds last week in Flagstaff.
Following two shutout performances in goal,
Trinity Corcoran has been named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the conference on Tuesday morning. Corcoran's accolades mark the second overall for the Jacks this season and the first defensive honors, while tabbing her second career Big Sky weekly award.
Corcoran recorded eight saves against the Lobos, adding four while facing the Thunderbirds. Corcoran ranks second in the Big Sky in save percentage, holding strong at .857 through seven matches played. Corcoran's back-to-back shutouts mark the first of the season for the Jacks, as she has recorded 48 stops total.
Montana will enter Sunday's matchup with a 6-0 home record at South Campus Stadium while holding opponents scoreless. The Griz picked up a 2-0 win over Boise State in their lone match of the week, as the Broncos entered the match with a 6-1-0 record alongside a No. 3 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region poll.
Montana also tabbed a Big Sky Player of the Week award as Chlore Seelhoff earned the offensive honors following a two-goal game which included a penalty kick goal just 97 seconds into play against Boise State. Seelhoff has scored the last three goals for Montana, with Jen Estes leading the way as she has recorded four goals and two assists for the Griz squad this season.
In goal, Montana has split time between keepers with returner Ashlyn Dvorak sophomore Bayliss Flynn each recording five starts in non-conference play. Dvorak has allowed five goals in comparison to Flynn's three. Flynn leads the team with 28 saves, and a 3-0-2 record in goal.
The 2023 postseason was the last time these two programs met on the pitch, where NAU would advance to its second-straight tournament championship match following a 1-0 victory over the Griz. A win in Missoula would mark the Jacks third-ever, with the last coming in 2022 when NAU pulled a 2-1 win over the Griz.
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