Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team played Lewis to a scoreless tie in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Friday night, but the Norse advanced to the championship game by pulling out a 4-2 decision in the penalty-kick shootout.

NKU (15-4-2) opened the shootout with a conversion by Braden Bishop, who snuck the ball in the top right corner. Following a high miss by Lewis' Jose Ibarra, the Norse took a 2-0 advantage after a conversion by Alex Oeswein.

Lewis' Mardoche Beya missed high, but goalie Sebastian Kieruzal kept the Flyers close by stopping an attempt by the Norse's Steven Beattie.

Lewis followed with a conversion by Robert McGowan to cut NKU's advantage to 2-1. NKU answered with a goal by Chris Dobrowolski and following a conversion by Lewis' Jose Lopez, the Norse sealed the shootout win with a goal by Stephen McGill.

Norse goalie Michael Lavric played 110 minutes and recorded eight saves to notch the shutout. NKU, the No. 2 seed in the GLVC Tournament, finished with a 20-13 edge in shot attempts and a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Lewis, which is now 13-3-2, watched its eight-game winning streak halted with Friday's draw. The third-seeded Flyers had posted a 1-0 win against NKU during the regular season.

NKU is now 13-17-3 all-time against Lewis.

NKU will face top-seeded Drury - which posted a 3-2 win in overtime against Bellarmine on Friday - for the GLVC Tournament championship on Sunday. Earlier this season, NKU handed Drury its only loss by posting a 2-1 win over the Panthers.

NKU is ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll, and the Norse are expected to receive a berth in the NCAA Tournament regardless of Sunday's outcome.