BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team finished a night of success for Norse athletics with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over West Virginia Wesleyan on Friday evening.
NKU's women's soccer team and volleyball squad each won their respective matches on Friday night as well, and by equally slim margins.
The NKU men (1-0), ranked No. 5 in the preseason NCAA Division II national poll, played scoreless soccer against WVWC (0-1) until the 85th minute, when Wesleyan's Anthony Peters scored on a corner kick play, one of six allowed by the Norse on the night, to take a 1-0 advantage.
The Norse wasted no time tying the game, as just about a minute later
Tony Ray fired a shot that Bobcat goalkeeper George Rowley turned away, but
Braden Bishop was right there to clean up the rebound and even the score.
NKU got the winner in the 105th minute when Ray, looking up field once again, set up
Steven Beattie's knuckling blast from 30 yards that found the net in the top right corner.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Michael Lavric made three saves in the victory. With two assists, Ray vaulted to seventh all-time at NKU with a career total of 19.
The Norse open their home schedule against Charleston (W. Va.) at noon Sunday in Wilder, Ky.
