FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 17, 2025) – The Northern Arizona soccer team fought a hard battle on Sunday afternoon in Flagstaff, but fell to the Nevada Wolf Pack in a 2-1 final.
The opening 45 minutes tested both defensive lines. NAU recorded 10 shots, besting Nevada's seven in the first half.
"We matched them well in transition. It was hard to deal with, but we weren't afraid of that pace," head coach Alan Berrios said. "We have a long way to go and we have a lot to learn from it."
The Lumberjacks struck first in the 23rd minute. Flagstaff native and senior Morgan Caslin gave NAU a 1-0 lead with her first career goal finishing off a free kick delivered by Madisyn Marchesi. Caslin tallied two shots in her 90 minutes of play.
With NAU leading 1-0 at halftime, Nevada responded with a different pace in the second half, limiting NAU to six shots and scoring two goals. In the 66th minute, freshman Naima Castro equalized off a fastbreak strike from just outside the box, ricocheting off the top post and into the net. Momentum shifted quickly and five minutes later, junior Olivia Loomis buried an impressive shot from the right corner of the box for the game-winner.
Junior Micala Boex logged a full 90 minutes, firing six of the team's 16 total shots. Senior Avery Ott followed with four shots in her 85 minutes. In goal, junior Lexi Saveski earned her first career start and recorded five saves in 77 minutes against Nevada's aggressive attack, before freshman Reece Reichwald closed out the final 12 minutes.
The Lumberjacks now hit the road on Thursday, Aug. 21, for a night matchup against UC San Diego, marking their first game away from Flagstaff this season.
"We are in another situation where this team is very athletic, very gritty, with a field that is a lot bigger than ours," Berrios said. "In these next training sessions, we'll have to get used to covering more space."
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