FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 5, 2024) – Northern Arizona soccer (0-2-2) was handed its first loss to Utah Tech on Thursday night as the Trailblazers found a second-half surge to take home the 2-1 final.
McKenzie Coleman and
Madisyn Marchesi both made their first career starts as Lumberjacks.
"I still believe that we're beating ourselves, making some key mistakes on key areas of the field in the defensive third," head coach
Alan Berrios said. "I think we just have to get back to fundamentals, we have to replicate the game in every training session and I think that's how we'll fix it."
Joey Lujan would open scoring just three minutes into play, taking a deflection from
McKenzie Coleman and
Deniah Wells to sneak past Brianna Frey who would go on to play the full 90 minutes for UTU. The trio for NAU now leads the team in points as each hold three on the season.
Trinity Corcoran got the nod in goal for the Jacks, making three saves in the first frame. In the 23
rd minute, Corcoran was tested in back-to-back attempts as Adele faller sent a shot on from about ten feet out of the box, forcing Corcoran to make a jumping save just moments before Kalea Woodyatt attempted the second chance from just steps in front of Corcoran who once again grabbed the save.
NAU took the 1-0 lead into halftime while putting six shots up and forcing four first-half corner kicks. The Trailblazers tabbed the equalizer just four-and-a-half minutes into the second half as Lacy Fox recorded her fourth goal of the season for Utah Tech.
Just outside of NAU's box, Lataya Brost claimed the go-ahead goal in the 82
nd minute after the Trailblazers were awarded a free kick just outside the box off a Lumberjack handball call. Corcoran closed out the match with a season-high seven saves, playing a full 90 minutes.
The Lumberjacks will return to action in Colorado Springs on Sunday afternoon to take on the Air Force Academy at 12 p.m. MST. To stay up to date with NAU Soccer, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
