FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona forward Haley Wingender scored her Big Sky-leading sixth goal of the season in the 67th minute and Lumberjack goalkeeper Natalie Gilbertson made six saves as NAU defeated Sacramento State 1-0 on Sunday in Flagstaff.

For the fifth time this season the Hornets lost by just one goal. Sacramento State (5-6-0, 0-2-0 Big Sky) dropped its first two Big Sky games on the road after a 2-1 loss on Friday at Southern Utah. The win was the first in conference play for Northern Arizona (5-3-2, 1-0-1 Big Sky), which improved to 4-0-2 at home this season.

After starting Big Sky play on the road the Hornets play their next four conference games at home. They will host Montana on Friday and Eastern Washington next Sunday before facing Weber State and Idaho State the following weekend.

The Hornets played a strong first half on Sunday, outshooting Northern Arizona 7-5 overall in the first half and placing four shots on goal. Sacramento State also had six corner kicks and just two corners allowed in the first half but could not get a shot past Gilbertson.

Senior goalkeeper Kimberly Mata made a pair of saves in the first half but faced heavier fire in the second period. The Lumberjacks had three corner kicks and two shots on goal in the first six minutes of the second half but failed to beat Mata.

Northern Arizona got its goal in the 67th minute as Wingender put home a shot from just outside the box. Gilbertson stopped a shot from Hornet senior Kristen Bridges in the 80th minute that was the last of just two Sacramento State shots on goal in the second half.

NAU had an 8-3 edge in shots in the second half and had four corner kicks while the Hornets had none. The Big Sky leader with a 0.52 goals against average coming into the game, Gilbertson picked up her fifth shutout of the season and has allowed only one goal in the last five games.

Mata made six stops in the loss. Wingender had a game-high six shots while the Hornets got three shots apiece from sophomores Alexa Heinzer and Adaurie Dayak, with each placing two shots on goal.

Sunday was the eighth shutout the Hornets have played in through 11 games this season, having gone 3-5 in those games.