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GREELEY, Colo. - Sacramento State Hornets opened the 2021 Big Sky Soccer Championship in thrilling fashion, scoring a late goal to defeat the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, 1-0, on Wednesday.
The Hornets entered this week's conference tournament as the six seed, drawing a first round matchup with the No. 3 Lumberjacks. The contest was a rematch of Oct. 22's double-overtime heartbreaker at Hornet Field.
Sacramento State didn't need any extra time on Wednesday, finding the back of the net late to pull ahead, 1-0.
After 83 scoreless minutes, it was forward Tiffany Miras putting the Hornets on the scoreboard with a brilliant header. The goal was her first of the year and couldn't have come at a more crucial time.
"If anyone was going to score that goal for us in a game like this, Tiffany Miras is a grinder and games like this are built for her," said head coach Randy Dedini after the match. "For her to come up with the game-winner with just seven minutes left was just awesome."
Miras's goal was made possible by an equally brilliant cross from fellow forward Ele Avery, who sent one from the near side across the box just past the back post. Miras beat the keeper to the ball, and on the run, drove a header screaming into the net.
The late excitement was far from the only action in Wednesday's match as both teams had chances throughout.
The first half was controlled by Sacramento State, who put together a number of good looks together but were unable to turn any of their action into goals. In the 24th minute, Abigail Lopez found an open look from the top of the box, but sent her shot just left of the goal. Minutes later, in the 30th, Jasmyne Dunn found herself with just one defender to beat on a quick break down the field. From just beyond the six, Dunn opened enough space to fire off a shot, but sent it wide right of the post and harmlessly out of play.
In total, the Hornets outshot the Lumberjacks, 4-2, in the first 45. In addition, Sacramento State earned three corner kicks compared to NAU's one.
The second half was a different story, at least early on, as Northern Arizona emerged from the break as the aggressor. The Lumberjacks controlled possession for the first part of the second half and started piling up shot attempts. In addition, Northern Arizona earned four second half corner kicks, compared to just one for the Hornets.
That pressure appeared to pay off for Northern Arizona when, in the 73rd minute, the Lumberjacks scored what looked to be the match's first goal. However, Sam Larberg was called offside and the goal wiped off the board.
Wednesday's match featured incredible defensive efforts on both sides, especially by the Hornets and goalkeeper Mia Shalit.
The Hornets held the Lumberjacks, who entered the first round matchup averaging 14 shots and eight shots on goal per game, to just seven and two on Wednesday. Shalit, appearing in her first career tournament match, made saves on both of those two shots while playing aggressively and taking chances away from the Lumberjacks before they were able to develop.
With the first round win, Sacramento State will advance to face No. 2 Montana on Friday, Nov. 5. The semifinal appearance is the second in the last three years for the Hornets, who last advanced to the semis in 2019.
Friday's semifinal match will kick off at 11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT from Jackson Field in Greeley, Colo. and will stream live online on ESPN+ with live stats at HornetStats.com.
