The NKU men's soccer team will face Rockhurst in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team will officially begin the defense of its NCAA Division II national championship on Friday when the Norse meet Northwood (Mich.) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Rockhurst earned the top seed in the Midwest Region and the right to host the opening rounds of the tournament in Kansas City, Mo. The Hawks will entertain Saginaw Valley in the first round.
NKU enters the tournament with a 13-4 record. The Norse lost a 2-1 decision to Drury in the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and have taken advantage of added training time to prepare for the rigors of tournament play to come.
The last time Rockhurst hosted the Midwest Regional was in 2008, when NKU defeated Ashland, 3-2, before playing Lewis to a scoreless draw and winning the penalty-kick shootout, 4-3, to claim their third consecutive regional championship. The Norse advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in team history before falling in overtime to Dowling, 2-1.
Northwood is 9-4-4 overall after advancing to the GLIAC Tournament championship game against Tiffin, where the Dragons claimed the title on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in regulation. NKU and Northwood have never met on the soccer field.
Rockhurst claims a 15-2-2 record entering the NCAA Tournament, having advanced to the GLVC Tournament semifinals against Quincy. The teams played to a 1-1 draw with Quincy advancing on penalty kicks. In the regular season, NKU took a 1-0 victory over Rockhurst in an exceptionally physical battle. The result brought the all-time series between the teams level at 6-6-3.
Saginaw Valley boasts a 12-4-3 record after advancing to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals, where the Cardinals fell to Tiffin, 2-1. The Norse and Cardinals last met in 2005, a game NKU won, 3-0. Saginaw Valley holds the all-time edge against NKU, 2-1-1.
The winners of Friday's first round games will meet in second-round action on Sunday. Game times are yet to be announced.
