GREELEY, Colo. – Kira Witte notched her Big Sky record 13th shutout of the season, but Idaho failed to score through 110 minutes of soccer and the Vandals fell to NAU in the 4-3 in the shootout as the Lumberjacks claimed the Big Sky title.
 
NAU tallied a 20-11 shot advantage, but Idaho had seven shots on goal to just six for the Lumberjacks.
 
Neither team could find the net through 90 minutes of regulation or through the extra 20 minutes of overtime as both goalkeepers shined.
 
In the end it came down to a penalty kick shootout. The Vandals missed on their first attempt but evened it up when Witte made a save on NAU's fourth shot. NAU goalkeeper Trinity Corcoran made a save on Idaho's final attempt and the Lumberjacks clinched it with a goal on their fifth shot to earn the shootout win.
 
It is the second time that Idaho has been to the Big Sky title game, the first coming in 2015, and both games ended in shootout losses.
 
The Vandals finish 12-3-3 on the year, the third most wins in program history and the most since the 2015 team. The Vandals tallied a school record 13 shutouts and tied the school record for season save percentage (.857). Goalkeeper Kira Witte set the single-season record for goal against average (0.66). Idaho tied the spring 2021 season with goals allowed at 12. The spring season was just 11 games.
 
Senior Savannah Foster, the only starter that will graduate, ends her career with a school-record 82 games played and 69 starts. She is tied for 10th all-time with teammate Maddy Lasher with 11 career goals and closes her career tied for fourth with five game winning goals in her career.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Four Vandals were named to the All-Tournament team. Witte, Margo Schoesler, Jayd Sprague and Cassidy Elicker earned All-tournament team.
 
Witte did not give up a goal in 220 minutes between the posts at the tournament. Schoesler scored the lone goal against Montana and Sprague and Elicker helped set the tone for the Vandal defense.