The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks opened their 2026 campaign with a convincing 2‑0 victory over UC Riverside, extending their streak of five consecutive lid‑lifter championships.
Ava Hinske broke onto the scoresheet in the fifth minute, slotting a low drive after a precise pass from Kaylee Muniz to give NAU an early lead.
Micala Boex added her own milestone goal in the 32nd minute, finishing a quick exchange with Taija Anderson that doubled the advantage.
Between the goals, Lexi Saveski was busy between the posts, making three saves and playing the full 90 minutes to record her second career shutout.
Command of the Game
NAU outshot Riverside 6‑3, with Boex leading the attack by firing four attempts, two of them on target, while Brooklyn Jones, Kortus and Hinske each contributed a shot.
Goalkeeper Saveski’s early save in the same minute as Hinske’s goal set the tone, and a flurry of saves in the second half kept Riverside at bay.
The defensive unit limited Riverside to a single shot on goal after halftime, underscoring the team’s balanced performance.
Finishing the match, Boex struck again in the 85th minute, a nod to her back‑to‑back season‑opening goals from the previous year, sealing the victory.
The Lumberjacks will now travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a showdown with New Mexico on August 20, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.