Northern Arizona University Athletics issued the following announcement on Aug. 13.
The Northern Arizona soccer team begins the highly anticipated fall 2021 season, on the road next week in Utah. A quick turnaround from the spring season isn't putting a stop to the team's drive and excitement to get another season started.
After leading her team to the Big Sky Championship last season, Head Coach Kylie Louw brought on 13 newcomers, along with 13 letterwinners returning to the program. The team's additions include 12 true freshmen and a graduate transfer from NC State, Mikhail Johnson. With a mix of veteran and younger players, the Lumberjacks are finding a new rhythm for the upcoming season
"We're not the team from last year. We have to figure out how to play as a new team. That's what I'm looking forward to is seeing how we can bring the best out of each other," Louw said.
After raking in the offseason accolades, Madison Montgomery will get back to the field as the team's leading goal scorer in the spring. Montgomery scored a total of nine goals in nine games and recorded 29 shots, 14 on goal.
The season will mark the team's first time back in the Lumberjack Stadium since Oct. 27, 2019. Almost a full two years since the Lumberjacks last played in front of their home crowd, they will return with full capacity ready to welcome fans back.
"We are a huge energy team, so that's the biggest thing for us, we're gonna be able to play in front of family, fans, and friends. I think for us we're just trying to represent NAU in the best way that we can," Louw said. "If we can do all those things and fans enjoy that, hopefully we can get more and more people to fall in love with NAU and our brand and our brand of the game. Most of all just having that energy back is something that we can feed off of."
After losing senior Taryn Benham, the team has looked to three goalkeepers with confidence and trust. Returning keeper Olivia Hein, alongside incoming freshman Natalie Manzo, and Trinity Corcoran, have spent training camp working with the Lumberjacks' goalkeeping coach Chris Campbell. Their focus has one main component, to take it game by game and be ready at any given moment.
"Our goalkeeper situation is awesome. We have three great goalkeepers and whoever is best for the game on that day is the one that's gonna play," Louw said.
Louw and her staff have high hopes of getting their team back to the Big Sky Championships, eyeing one game and one opponent at a time.
"For us, it's winning one game at a time. Our focus will be trying to win each game and then moving on and focusing on the next one. Obviously we know at the end of the day the more wins we get the better position we put ourselves in but we can't look ahead of us," Louw said.
The Lumberjacks open the season on Aug. 21 at Utah State. The team will host their first home game on Sept. 3 versus Grand Canyon at Max Spilsbury Field at Lumberjack Stadium.
Original source can be found here.
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