FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Northern Arizona women’s soccer team was down two goals with less than ten minutes left in the match and came back to tie up the game but eventually dropped their first loss of the season to the Miners. UTEP’s Azia Nicholson scored in the 80^th minute to put up the Miners 3-1. But the Lumberjacks did not quit and applied pressure until the very last second of play and gave the fans a show. Junior defender Sarah Tarver was able to put the ball in the back of the net from a cross from freshman defender Danny Muniz, which made it 3-2. Less than a minute later freshman forward Lindsay Doyle was able to get her second goal of the season with a goal inside the box off another cross from Muniz. The Miners responded immediately with a goal from Angela Cutaia to take the victory 4-3.

“Our team is a gritty bunch,” said head coach Andre Luciano. “I have never been a part of a game where three goals were scored in less than four minutes. It was a good game and I am so proud of our players because most teams would have given up but this team wants to fight and I am proud of that.”

Muniz also provided the assist to the first goal by senior forward Shawnee Morgan which gives Muniz the record for most assists in a game at Lumberjack Stadium.  She also ties the school record for most assists in a game.

“I was proud of our team and the way we fought,” said Muniz. “I knew we were down and we had to get points on the board so I am just glad I was able to get the ball to Shawnee (Morgan), Sarah (Tarver) and Lindsay (Doyle).”

Behind 704 fans, the 17^th largest crowd ever at Lumberjack Stadium, the Lumberjacks showed the fans and future opponents that no matter what the scoreboard says, this squad will continue to work every last second until the final whistle is blown. 

Morgan, one of five seniors on the team, is pleased with the character this team displays, a mentality that has been missing in recent years.

“Last year if we were down two goals, there was no way we were going to come back,” said Morgan. “This game shows the character of our team and we will never give up.”

The Lumberjacks will rest up before Sunday’s matchup against Hawai’i at 12 p.m. at Lumberjack Stadium.

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