MOSCOW, Idaho (October 26th, 2025) – The Northern Arizona women's soccer team bounced back for a 3-0 road win over Idaho on Sunday afternoon in Big Sky Conference action. The victory pushes NAU into the 2025 Big Sky Championships, beginning Nov. 5 in Missoula, Montana as the No. 6 seed.
The Lumberjack (5-5-7, 2-3-3 Big Sky) offense was powered by
Avery Ott, who took four shots and recorded NAU's second score following an own goal by Idaho.
Katie Willoughby,
Micala Boex, and
Valerie Llamas took three shots apiece, with Llamas scoring the third goal for the 'Jacks for her second score of the season.
Lexi Saveski made her second start in goal and played all 90 minutes, making eight saves for a career-high and her first career shutout. NAU was outshot by 18-14, with Idaho holding a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. The Vandal attack was led by Sara Rodgers and Karli Yoshida-Williams with three shots apiece.
Both teams got out attacking early. Saveski answered the first question of a keeper in the 14th minute after a trio of corner kicks from Idaho and then stopped another shot in the 17th minute. NAU weathered another Vandal charge in the 24th minute off a corner kick, before Ott and Willoughby took the next two shots in the 26th minute. The Vandal keeper then made her first save of the contest in the 28th minute off a shot from Boex.
Shortly after, O'Connor earned a free kick in the attacking zone, which she launched into the box. The ball was batted around by Vandal defenders and ended up in the back of the net for the game's first score in the 29th minute.
The very next shot of the match was the 'Jacks second score, by way of a left-footed rocket from Ott in the 36th minute as NAU took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Saveski began the second stanza with a pair of saves in the 50th and 51st minute as Idaho looked to break into the scoring column. The junior made another stop in the 57th minute, as NAU took possession into its attacking zone. Holding the ball just outside the box, Llamas dribbled and fired a left-footer past the Vandal keeper to make it 3-0 NAU
in the 71st minute.
The Northern Arizona backline, along with Saveski, then locked down to record the shutout and hold the Vandals to just one shot on goal the rest of the match, en route to the 3-0 win.
The Lumberjacks tally their fourth shutout on the year and improve their record to 4-3-3 when being outshot.
NAU will begin the postseason with the quarterfinal match against No. 3 Eastern Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Mountain Standard Time and will be streamed on ESPN+.
