BOX SCORE - PDF | HTML

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Northern Arizona's Adrian Nixt delivered a heartbreaker for the Portland State women's soccer team in the Vikings' Big Sky opener Friday, as the Lumberjack junior forward scored a golden goal in the third minute of overtime to hand the Vikings a 2-1 loss on the road.
 
The match marked another near comeback for the Vikings (2-7-0, 0-1-0 Big Sky), as junior Katie Forsee scored in the 53rd minute to level the match at 1-1 and eventually force overtime, after the Lumberjacks (4-5-1, 1-0-0 Big Sky) scored the first goal of the match in the 21st minute. Nixt's goal negated the Vikings' comeback, however, handing the Vikings their 11th loss in 14 matches all-time at Lumberjack Stadium, which has been a house of horrors for the Vikings throughout their program history.
 
"We played well, and I know it isn't much consolation for the team or for our staff to hear me say that, but we are playing well – very few breakdowns have bitten us," PSU head coach Laura Schott said after the match.
 
The Vikings have shown the ability to get back into matches this season, but haven't been able to complete their comebacks. The Vikings turned a 3-0 deficit into a 3-2 match on the road against Gonzaga on Sept. 4, and also got back into their match against San Jose State on the road on Sept. 18 with a goal before halftime that got the Vikings back within a goal.
 
Friday's conference opener looked like it could be the Vikings' first true comeback of the season, as the team responded well after giving up the first goal of the match in the 21st minute. Seven of the Vikings' eight shots in the first half came after the Lumberjacks' goal, while the Vikings outshot the Lumberjacks 7-3 over the remainder of the period.
 
Forsee's goal rewarded the Vikings' strong play after the NAU goal, as it leveled the match soon after halftime.
 
The goal marked the third of the season for Forsee, who has been having a breakout offensive season so far after being named an All-Big Sky honorable mention as a sophomore. Forsee's three goals this season are already more than she scored during her freshman and sophomore seasons combined, while she leads the team with seven total points on three goals and an assist. Additionally, Forsee's five career goals rank her tied with Morgan Matthews for second on the team, and only three behind Aurora Bodenhamer, who is the active career leader with eight goals.
 
The Lumberjacks controlled play after Forsee's goal, however, as they outshot the Vikings 5-1 over the remainder of regulation. Nixt then scored on the first shot of overtime, ending the match after just two minutes and 38 seconds of overtime.
 
The Vikings will have no time to stew on the overtime loss, as they turn around and play Southern Utah on the road in Cedar City, Utah, at 1 p.m. (MT) Sunday, just over 36 hours from the start of their match against Northern Arizona.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings fall to 5-13-5 all-time against Northern Arizona after Friday's loss…NAU also improved to 11-0-3 against the Vikings in Flagstaff…Friday's match was played at 7,000 feet of elevation, and the Vikings will play at over 5,000 feet of elevation Sunday, when they face Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah.