OGDEN, Utah. - Northern Arizona scored two first-half goals and hung on down the stretch to defeat Sacramento State 2-1 in the first semifinal on Thursday at the Big Sky Conference Tournament.The Lumberjacks (10-10-0) advance to the championship game on Saturday, while the Hornets’ season ends after making the postseason tournament for the first time since 2001 and posting their best record (8-8-3) since 2000.
Northern Arizona’s Stephanie Smith gave the Lumberjacks a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute with the assist going to Kaitlyn Baum. Later in the game, Cee Cee Odorfer, the Big Sky’s Newcomer of the Year, recorded her 10th goal of the season in the 23rd minute when her shot deflected off Hornet goalkeeper Jenny Lawrence and found the back of the net.
Late in the first half, Sacramento State freshman Sarah Howard cut the Lumberjacks’ lead in half when she headed in her second goal of the season off Katie McCoy''s free kick. The Hornets failed to score the equalizer in the final 45 minutes.
Sacramento State ends the 2005 campaign after posting its best Big Sky record (4-1-1) in program history.
Northern Arizona outshot Sacramento State 19-16, led by Odorfer''s seven shots. McCoy led the Hornets with four.
Lawrence also recorded a match-high 10 saves.
