SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Northern Arizona soccer team (1-4-1) battled San Francisco to a 1-1 tie on Friday in the first of two games this weekend in northern California.
The Dons got on the scoreboard first at the 16:07 mark and took a 1-0 lead as USF’s top scorer Mackenzie Kreiser scored her fourth goal of the season off an assist by Christina Moberg. But the USF lead would be very brief, as a handball by the home team gave the Lumberjacks a free kick just seconds after the resulting kickoff. Senior Georgia Foltz took the free kick, and freshmen Haley Wingender put the ball in the net for the tying goal at the 16:28 mark.
“Tonight we showed our resilience as a young group,” said head coach Andre Luciano. “I think for us to give up a goal and capitalize 21 seconds later shows how hungry this group is. We had some near-misses but those are going to come. The important thing is that we put ourselves in position to score goals. Last year, I think we fought not to lose a game and tonight we came out and played like we wanted to win this game.”
After giving up the quick tying score, San Francisco controlled the tempo the rest of the first and second halves, but neither team could score the game-winner. NAU was the aggressor throughout the overtime periods, outshooting the Dons 6-2, including three missed opportunties at the net.
Elinor Priest had her shot saved by USF goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel, but the ball richocheted to freshman Demi Schmieder, whose rebund shot to skipped just wide right of the goal. NAU would have one more prime scoring chance towards the end of the second extra period in the 108th minute as Wingender had a slight breakaway. Her shot also went just wide right, forcing the Lumberjacks to settle for a 1-1 draw.
San Francisco owned a 15-13 advantage in shots. Wingender had seven of NAU's 13 attempts.
“We’re growing up a little more every game and for us to go on the road in a different environment, it all started in the second half,” Luciano said. “We started taking away their attack in the second half and that speaks volumes of our team’s resilience.”
Junior Lauren Weaver made her second start of the season in goal and posted five saves while playing the full 110:00 minutes.
The Lumberjacks wrap up their road trip on Sunday with a afternoon game at UC Davis (3-1-1).
