Oct. 15, 2009
Final Stats
Northern Arizona Box Score 
Pocatello, ID--Idaho State came out strong taking an early 3-0 lead in the first half as the Bengals scored all three goals with ten minutes remaining in the period. Senior Annamarie Hofstetter set the Big Sky all-time career assists record with 23 when she assisted on Idaho State's fourth goal in its 4-2 victory over Northern Arizona at Davis Field Thursday afternoon. Idaho State improved to 2-1 in the Big Sky to tie for first place with six points, while Northern Arizona fell to 1-2 in league play to tie for fourth.
"Since I was tied for the top I have wanted to get that last [assist] to set me apart," said Hofstetter of her record setting assist. "Now I think more will come because I was kind of forcing it. Now the pressure is off and I can relax and more will come now."
Idaho State came out with intensity as the Bengals scored on half of their six shot attempts while shutting out Northern Arizona who only recorded four shots with one on goal. Ashley Jones, a freshman, jumped on the scoreboard first. Defender Lauren Hough made a clean pass to Megan Stainbrook on the right side of the field and Stainbrook put the ball at the foot of Jones as she was running in front of the net to tap the ball past NAU keeper Tori Rocke. Both Hough and Stainbrook were credited with the assists. Jones scored the first goal of the game at the 16:33 mark for her fourth goal this season, to lead the Bengals for 4:53.
Senior Hofstetter added her on goal at the when she scored on a touch pass from Kacey Ball 10 yards out for her fourth goal of the season to tie Jones in leading the Bengals. Thirsty for more the freshman Rachel Strawn leaped at her opportunity to score at the 34:30 mark as she captured a bad pass from a Northern Arizona defender with the keeper Rocke out of the goal to score what would be the game-winner on an open net. Rocke would post four saves during the contest.
"That was our number one goal today after coming off of Sunday's game and not doing that," said Head Coach Allison Gibson of the Bengals strong start. "That's something we can control. We can control moving the ball, we can control keeping it on the ground, coming out hard. The goals will take care of themselves."
After the half-time break Northern Arizona came busting out of the gates in the second period scoring goals within 4:06 of each other. Jenna Samora scored the Lumberjacks first goal, an unassisted effort just 2:37 after the start of the second period 14 yards out. She blasted the ball to the bottom right-hand corner past ISU's keeper Bailey Williams for her fifth goal of the season.
Then NAU's Kristi Andreassen scored a goal off a free kick on the left side of the field that flew over all the defenders to the top of the goal over 5-5 Williams' head. Williams had one save during the game as ISU's backline held Northern Arizona to just nine shots with three on goal.
As the Lumberjacks gained a momentum shift the Bengals shut them down Hofstetter served up a corner kick that was headed into the goal from defender Karissa-Henage for her second goal of the season. Hofstetter's assist marked her 23 career assist to set the Big Sky all-time recording breaking her tie with Sacramento State's Katie McCoy who scored 22 from 2004-07.
Hofstetter and Strawn led the Bengals with three shots each and both scored goals in the contest. Idaho State scored on one of its six corner kicks, four of which came in the second period. Idaho State unleashed 10 shots in the second period and out-shot the Lumberjacks 16-to-9 for the contest. The Bengals improve to 3-1-0 at home.
"Honestly, this was a must win for us, as is Saturday. You blink and conference is over so every game is critical, but even more so at home because the ones on the road are harder to get. It's a critical game for us," said head coach Gibson. "Now looking forward to Saturday it's just as important if not more important to try and get those three more points and try and put ourselves in a good position to make the tournament."
Idaho State will host Northern Colorado on Sunday, October 17 at Davis Field. The match up begins at noon.
Notes: Idaho State recorded the largest home attendance for the season with 545 fans and it is also Idaho State's largest Big Sky Conference attendance this season ... ISU's four goals is the most goals scored in a game for the Bengals this season ... The total goal count is also the most goals scored by both teams in a contest this season with five ... It is the second time this season that Hofstetter has served up a corner kick and Henage-Fisher has scored a goal this season, teaming up for the first time in ISU's 1-0 victory at Utah State.
