RIVERSIDE, Calif. – (August 12, 2026) – The Northern Arizona soccer team began the 2026 regular season with a 2-0 win over UC Riverside on Wednesday night inside of UCR Soccer Stadium.

Ava Hinske and Micala Boex were the goal scorers for NAU (1-0), as Hinske's score marked the first of her career. Kaylee Muniz provided the assist on Hinske's goal for the first helper of her career, while Taija Anderson notched the assist on Boex's goal.

Lexi Saveski made the start in goal and played all 90 minutes, making three saves and earning the second shutout of her career.

Shots were even with each side taking eight, but NAU recorded six on goal to UC Riverside's three. Boex led the Lumberjack attack with four shots, two on target, while Kortus, Hinske, and Brooklyn Jones each tallied one apiece.

Finley Asghassi led the Highlanders (0-1) with four shots.

The Jacks got off to a fast start, with Hinske netting her goal in the fifth minute to put NAU up 1-0. UCR asked the next question of the match soon after, as Saveski made her first save of the match in the same minute.

The attack steadied midway through the half, with NAU's next shot coming in the 22nd minute from Boex who missed high. She then took her first shot on goal in the 32nd minute, which was followed by another test of the Highlander keeper by Valerie Llamas in the 39th minute. Saveski made another save in the 41st minute, taking NAU into halftime with the advantage.

Kortus and Jones took their turn testing the UCR goalie in the 55th and 58th minutes, while the Lumberjack backline allowed just a single shot on goal in the second period. Boex then closed the door with her score in the 85th minute and has now scored in the season opener in back-to-back years, as NAU won its fifth straight lid-lifter.

The Lumberjacks remain on the road next week, traveling to Albuquerque to face New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 20. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time and will be streamed on Mountain West Plus.