DAVIS, Calif. -- The Northern Arizona soccer team gave up two first-half goals to UC Davis and was outshot by a 29-7 margin in a 3-0 loss Sunday.
NAU fell to 1-5-1 on the season but will return to Flagstaff for three straight home matches beginning Friday against Florida Gulf Coast.
The Lumberjacks got off to a fast start against a stingy Aggies defense that entered the game having allowed just five goals in five games. Just a minute into the contest, freshman Haley Wingender had a shot on goal that was deflected out of bounds, leading to an NAU corner kick. After sophomore Kelly Whelan’s corner, sophomore Emily Roth’s ensuing shot hit the post. The rebound was then gathered by sophomore Shawnee Morgan, whose header on goal was stopped by the UC Davis goalkeeper Taylor Jern.
From that point on, though, the Aggies controlled the game, putting up 17 shots in the first half alone. With goals by Ashley Edwards and Taylor Duffner in the 20th and 42nd minutes, respectively, UC Davis took a 2-0 advantage into halftime.
With minimal scoring opportunities -- freshman Nicole Sherwin and sophomore Sarah Tarver each had a shot go high of the net -- in the second half, the Lumberjacks could not muster a comeback. UC Davis would tack on a final goal in the 73rd minute when an NAU handball in the box led to a penalty kick by Kiele Argente, who capitalized to make it 3-0.
Despite the disadvantage in shots, the Lumberjacks did hold a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks for the first time this season, limiting the Aggies to one corner kick, a season low for an NAU opponent. Wingender and Tarver each had two shots to pace the NAU’s attack.
Junior Lauren Weaver got the start in goal and made nine saves, just two off her single-game career high, before giving way to freshman Natalie Gilbertson, who made three saves in the second half.
