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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Junior forward Tamia Hasan brought the Portland State women's soccer team back from an early deficit with a goal in the 25th minute, and the Vikings tied Northern Arizona 1-1 Friday at Lumberjack Stadium in both team's Big Sky Conference opener.
 
"NAU is a good team that will do well this season, and our players did well to battle through some adversity today," PSU head coach Laura Schott said. "I'm very proud of our team."
 
Lumberjack Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Vikings (3-3-3, 0-0-1 Big Sky) historically, as the Vikings entered Friday's match just 0-8-2 all-time in NAU's home stadium.
 
Things did not start promisingly for the Vikings on Friday, either, as Northern Arizona (4-3-2, 0-0-1 Big Sky) went up 1-0 early on a 13th-minute goal from freshman forward Adrian Nixt.
 
Nixt scored the go-ahead goal off a free kick from junior teammate Haley Wingender, after PSU goalkeeper Caitlin Plesehesitated coming out on a ball and caught an NAU player, resulting in a free kick for the Lumberjacks, as well as a yellow card for Plese.
 
The Vikings responded relatively quickly, however, as Hasan turned things around for the Vikings after subbing in soon after the NAU goal in the 14th minute. Hasan brought the Vikings level at 1-1 just 11 minutes after she entered the match, scoring the equalizer on an assist from junior midfielder Emma Cooney in the 25th minute.
 
"Emma played a great ball to Tamia, who made a great run down the left side and had a tremendous finish," Schott said.
 
With the goal, Hasan moves into a tie with freshman forward Mackenzie Bean for the team lead at two goals apiece this season. Hasan has also now scored the last two goals for the Vikings, after scoring the game-winning goal in the Vikings' 1-0, overtime win over Oregon back on Sept. 12.
 
Hasan followed her goal with another shot just over a minute later, too, as the Vikings began to assert themselves with the match tied again at 1-1.
 
The Vikings outshot NAU 3-0 in the first half after NAU's goal, and held NAU without a shot for over 38 minutes of game time after the Lumberjacks' early score.
 
The Vikings were on their front foot during the second half and both overtime periods, too, as they created quality scoring chances late in the match.
 
The Vikings' best chance for a second goal came in the 105th minute, when Bean was taken down on a foul that appeared to be inside the penalty area. The referee awarded a free kick rather than a penalty, however, and the NAU defense blocked Bean's subsequent shot.
 
Junior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini also found herself with a chance at a goal in the 95th minute of the match. Bianchini scored a golden goal in the Vikings' 2-1, overtime win over the Lumberjacks last season, and nearly gave the Vikings déjà vu as she put a shot on target less than five minutes into the first overtime period. NAU goalkeeper Natalie Gilbertson was there to save Bianchini's shot this time, however, and the match finished tied, 1-1.
 
Despite never having won at Lumberjack Stadium, the Vikings have now tied NAU in their last three matches at NAU, a streak that started in 2011, when the Vikings snapped an eight-match road losing streak to NAU with a 1-1 draw in Flagstaff.
 
Additionally, Friday's draw extends the Vikings' unbeaten streak in Big Sky Conference matches to 12 matches. The Vikings have not lost a Big Sky match since dropping a 2-1 decision to Idaho State on Oct. 12, 2012.
 
The Vikings will take their 12-match Big Sky unbeaten streak into their match against Southern Utah Sunday, Sept. 28, in Cedar City, Utah. Southern Utah will be coming off a 2-1 win over Sacramento State Friday, in which Nancy Brich scored the game-winning goal less than five minutes from then end of regulation. The Thunderbirds have now won their last three matches on goals scored in the 85th minute or later.
 
The Vikings and Thunderbirds will kick off Sunday at 12 p.m. (MT).
 
Match Notes: The Vikings move to 10-5-5 all-time against NAU with Friday's draw…The Vikings also move to 0-8-3 all-time on the road against NAU…The Vikings have now gone unbeaten in their past four matches against the Lumberjacks, who have the best record against the Vikings of any Big Sky school historically…Friday's match was also the Vikings' fifth overtime match this season, and the Vikings are 1-1-3 in those matches…The five overtime matches so far in 2014 is already more than the team played in its entire 2013 season.

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