NAU soccer downs CSU Bakersfield, moves to 3-0

NAU soccer downs CSU Bakersfield, moves to 3-0

Published Aug. 30, 2013 11:08 p.m. ET

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – For the first time in school history, the Northern Arizona women’s soccer team improved to 3-0 Friday night by defeating Cal State Bakersfield 1-0.

Going into the second half tied 0-0, NAU picked up the pace offensively, and in the 64th minute, Cierra Gamble got the Lumberjacks on the scoreboard. Gamble took a feed from Malia Tano, who got an assist for her third point on the season, and slid it past the CSU Bakersfield goalkeeper for what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Gamble’s goal was the fifth goal for NAU on the season, all five coming in the second half and all five by different players.

“I call Gamble the garbage man,” said NAU coach Andre Luciano. “Malia Tano had a ball pop out of the six-yard box, and Gamble stepped up and buried it.”  

The Lumberjacks were outstanding defensively, allowing only one shot on goal and two shots overall for the game.

NAU now has two wins in the state of California and three wins in its first three games, a feat never before accomplished in program history.

“It is a testament to everything this team has gone through these past 365 days,” said Luciano. “They believe in themselves and they are playing with confidence, so this is a big win for us.”

The Lumberjacks will try to keep their winning streak going when they conclude their California road trip Sunday against UC Riverside.

“Starting the season with three straight wins means a lot to us,” said Gamble. “It says a lot about how hard we have been working, so we have to keep playing like that on Sunday.”

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