LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Northern Arizona soccer team struck first for a 1-0 lead early in the game Sunday but surrendered three unanswered goals, two in the second half, in a 3-1 loss to Oklahoma.
The Lumberjacks finished the UNLV Rebel Classic with a split and carry a 1-4 record into next weekend’s games in the Bay Area.
“I thought we played in a very organized manner and stuck to a specific game plan but just made three very critical young mistakes, and it cost us goals,” said head coach Andre Luciano. “But for a lineup that started seven freshmen, two sophomores and two seniors, I thought we played a mature game, and we’re going to be a good team this year.”
Sophomore Sarah Tarver scored the game’s first goal in the eighth minute for her first goal of the season. Freshman Demi Schmieder recorded her second assist of the weekend on a throw-in and found a wide-open Tarver in the middle of the field. Tarver then blasted the ball from 25 yards out over keeper Kelsey Devonshire and into the upper half of the net to give NAU an early 1-0 lead.
Following the goal, the Lumberjacks had two more opportunities shortly thereafter to pad their lead with shots that went wide of the goal off the feet of freshman Haley Wingender and Tarver. With the Lumberjacks unable to extend the lead, the Sooners tied the score in the 24th minute off an NAU mistake. Zoe Dickerson stole the ball on a broken play and capitalized from 10 yards out to even things up at 1-1, a score that would hold into the second half.
In the 57th minute, Oklahoma’s Renae Cuellar netted the eventual game-winner, scoring on an untended net after freshman Natalie Gilbertson and senior Georgia Foltz collided in front of the net going after the lead pass. The Sooners added an insurance goal in the 70th minute on an Amy Petrikin header.
The Lumberjacks, down throughout the second half, had their share of near misses while attempting to find the equalizer. Sophomore Kelly Whelan had one of her three shots on goal in the contest stopped by a diving Devonshire in the 62nd minute, and later, junior Elinor Priest just missed a header off a crossing pass by Wingender.
Oklahoma held the shot advantage for the game at 18-13 and a slight advantage in corner kicks at 3-1. Gilbertson made five saves in the game before being relieved in the 76th minute by junior Lauren Weaver, while Whelan registered a team-high three shots, all on goal. As a team, the Lumberjacks placed an exceptional eight shots on goal of their 13 attempts.
“Every game, we’re about 16 or 17 games more experienced based on the personnel,” Luciano said. “When I evaluate from the first game of the year to where we are right now, there’s been a huge amount of growth, and we look forward to the month of September.”
