HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team will look to right the ship this weekend as the Norse host Quincy and Missouri S&T in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.
Friday's game against Quincy is scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m., while Sunday's matinee against S&T will begin at noon.
The Norse (3-1, 0-1 GLVC) return home after a disappointing 3-0 loss at nationally ranked Wisconsin-Parkside last weekend. After playing the Rangers to a scoreless first half, UWP responded with three goals in a 16-minute span to claim victory. As a result, NKU fell out of the NCAA Division II national poll, though the Norse are still among others receiving votes, and a solid performance this weekend could vault them back into the national picture.
A WORD ABOUT QUINCY: The Hawks, picked to win the GLVC by the league coaches, enter the weekend with a 4-2 record, including a 1-0 mark in GLVC play. Quincy is fresh off a 15-0 waxing of Culver-Stockton College in the annual Great River Cup in which 13 different Hawks netted goals. The Hawks are led by 2007 GLVC Offensive Player of the Year Becky Fleming, who has five goals to lead her team and the conference. Quincy has won its last two meetings with NKU, though the Norse hold a 9-3-1 edge in the all-time series.
A WORD ABOUT MISSOURI S&T: The Norse are 4-1 all time against the Miners, who enjoy a 3-1-1 record, including a 1-0-1 record against GLVC competition after a 2-1 victory over Southern Indiana, followed by a 2-2 draw against Kentucky Wesleyan. Brooke Ryan and Melissa Young take the lead offensively for the Miners with three goals and seven points each.
FRESHMEN FINDING AN EDGE: The NKU freshman combination of
Amanda Mason and
Kelly Sullivan continues to deliver a powerful one-two punch to opposing goalkeepers. Entering the weekend's action, Mason ranked seventh in the GLVC in points with nine, while Sullivan shared ninth with eight points. Sullivan, averaging an assist a game, ranks seventh nationally in that category.
SHARING THE WEALTH: The Norse have been spectacular passers this season, racking up 14 assists as a team to rank second in the GLVC behind Wisconsin-Parkside's 27 helpers. The 3.5 assists per game is over an assist better than their 2007 average, when they tallied 40 helpers in 18 contests.
