DAYTON, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team wrapped up its preseason with a 1-0 victory over Wright State University on Friday night.
NKU goalkeeper
Michael Lavric was tested early on, as WSU's Braden Fleak used his speed to get ahead of the Norse defense and uncorked a shot that sailed just inches over the crossbar in the eighth minute. Fleak got a second chance in the 14th minute on a well-placed low header, but Lavric was up to the task once again.
As the Norse settled into their game, junior transfer
Mike Jonca took the opportunity to shine, taking a quick run and shot from the top of the 18-yard-box that was deflected just wide. Jonca would get a second chance off a
Dustin Downey corner kick, but Zach Thompson sacrificed the body for the Raiders to keep the ball out of the net.
Jonca would finally get his due in the 29th minute after
Alex Allison settled a ball in the defensive end and sent a pass up the left side to junior All-American
Braden Bishop, who found Jonca ahead near the box. The London, Ontario, product made a move laterally to evade one defender before executing a laser strike to the top right corner for the eventual game winner.
Things got dicey for the Norse late in the first half when Lavric took a hard contact while attempting to take away a long send from the Raiders. The sophomore toughed out the rest of the half, but gave way to senior
Keith Kelly in the second stanza.
Frustration gave way to chippy play on both sides in the second half, as the Raiders were booked three times to one yellow card against the Norse. Wright State had a solid offensive push in the 78th minute, forcing four corner kicks and getting four quality shots, but the NKU defense held strong for the 1-0 final.
Lavric made two saves and Kelly three in the combined shutout.
The Norse now stand ready to take the field in regular-season play beginning next Friday, when they travel to Buckhannon, W. Va., to take on West Virginia Wesleyan before opening the home half of the schedule the following Sunday against Charleston (W. Va.).
