The Northern Arizona women's soccer team (3-4-0) takes its first win streak on the road this weekend, traveling to Tucson, Ariz., for matches against Denver Saturday at 7 p.m. and Arizona Monday at 3 p.m. The Lumberjacks are coming off back-to-back wins at home over Utah State (3-2 in OT) and Boise State (2-1) last weekend.

On Deck

The Lumberjacks begin a three-match homestand with a non-conference tilt against Utah, the ninth-ranked team in the West Region, Friday, Oct. 2. The following weekend, NAU opens Big Sky Conference play Oct. 9 vs. Cal State Sacramento and Oct. 11 vs. Portland State.

The Cougar Connection

NAU and Arizona are joined not just by interstate, but they are also linked through the Palouse. NAU head coach Tracy Custer played at Washington State for three years under current Arizona mentor Lisa Fraser, before she took the Wildcat job in 1994. Custer was graduated from Washington State in 1995 and was a four-year letterwinner as a defender.

Streaky Jacks

With Sunday's win, the Jacks tied their longest home win streak at two matches and set a program record for longest win streak, also two. Sophomore forward Raegin Eyre is on a program-record three-match goal-scoring streak and a three-match point-scoring streak, carding seven points (three goals, one assist) in that span. Sophomore midfielder Erin Rummens has also tallied at least a point in three consecutive matches, earning an assist against Boise State and a goal against Utah State.

About the Pioneers

Denver (3-2-1) split two matches last week, downing New Mexico and falling to Colorado Christian. The squad's top returner is junior midfielder Andrea Raleigh who has recorded three goals and two assists in 1998. The team is led by head coach Jeff Hooker (UCLA 1992). The 1998 campaign marks Denver's first season of Division I play, as the school is expected to join the Sun Belt Conference in 1999 after spending this season as an independent.

About the Wildcats

Pacific-10 Conference member Arizona (1-4-1) lost a pair of matches at home to Kansas and George Washington last week. The team's leading scorers are freshman midfielder Twila Kaufman and sophomore midfielder Brooke McManus, who have scored four of the Cats' six goals in 1998. Head coach Lisa Fraser (Sonoma State 1984) is in her 16th year at the collegiate level and fifth at Arizona.

Working Overtime

Two of the Jacks' three victories this season have come in overtime. Freshman defender Angie Reed converted a penalty kick in Friday's Utah State match and Raegin Eyre scored the go-ahead goal in the second extra period against UC Santa Barbara. The Jacks played in two overtime matches in 1997, losing on the road to Fresno State (4-3) and winning in double-overtime against Cal State Northridge (7-6). Half of the second-year program's total wins (six) have been earned in extra time. The program is 2-0 in double- overtime and 1-1 in a single OT.

Second Half Success

NAU has scored 13 goals this season in seven matches. Of those, 10 (77 percent) have come in the second half and overtime, and the Jacks have scored in the second half and/or overtime in all seven matches.

Secret to Her Success

As the Lumberjacks have shown to be a second-half team with scoring goals, backup goalkeeper Erin Beckman has reaped the rewards. The true freshman has come in to play the second half of four matches. Seven of the squad's 10 second-half goals have come during Beckman's stints in goal. That helps explain how Beckman has recorded a 3-0-0 record this season. She has allowed just one goal in her last 91 minutes of action, a goals-against average of 0.989.

High in the Sky

Raegin Eyre leads the Big Sky Conference and the team in goals scored and total points with six and 13 respectively in just seven matches. In 1997, Eyre scored eight goals in 15 matches and has already recorded six (two game-winners) not quite halfway through the 1998 campaign. Trailing Eyre in the conference point standings with 12 is freshman forward Holly Jones. Jones is also second in the conference for assists with a team-leading four helps. These statistics help put NAU second in the conference in offense, trailing Montana by a point. The team has recorded 13 goals and 13 assists for 39 points this season. Eyre and Jones have scored 10 of the team's 13 goals this season.