BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – For the first time in school history, the Northern Arizona women’s soccer team has started the season 3-0-0 defeating CSU Bakersfield Friday night, 1-0. The Lumberjacks now have two wins in the state of California this season and a reason for their early success this season has been multiple players contributing on the offensive side of the ball.

Going into the second half tied at 0-0, the offense picked up and in the 64^th minute, Cierra Gamble was able to get the Lumberjacks on the scoreboard with a goal to give Northern Arizona the 1-0 lead. Gamble received an assist from Malia Tano, who earned her third point on the season.  Gamble’s goal was the fifth goal on the season and every goal has been in the second half by a different player.

“I call Gamble the garbage man,” said head 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 the entire game. Luciano was very pleased with the team’s overall defense allowing only two shots the entire game. 

Northern Arizona has come out of the gates hot to start the season with three straight wins, which the Lumberjacks have never accomplished in their 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.”

Gamble and the rest of the Lumberjacks will try to keep this winning streak going when they conclude their California road trip, Sunday Sept. 1 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.”

Kick-off on Sunday’s match against UC Riverside is at 7 p.m.    

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