HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team faces a major obstacle this weekend when it makes its longest road trip of the season, traveling to face two unbeaten squads - Drury and Rockhurst - in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
The Norse (7-0, 3-0 GLVC) play Drury on Friday evening. The Norse play at Rockhurst on Sunday afternoon.
NKU will look to keep its 29-game regular-season winning streak intact as it faces two of the region's, and the nation's, top teams. The Norse have not lost a regular-season contest since Sept. 15, 2006, a 2-1 loss at the hands of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T).
Last weekend, the Norse took GLVC foes Quincy and Missouri S&T to task. Friday night, it was an own goal in the 87th minute that provided NKU's 2-1 edge over Quincy. On Sunday,
Steven Beattie knocked home the game-winner in the second half while
Alex Oeswein scored the insurance marker in a 3-1 victory against Missouri S&T.
A WORD ON DRURY: Drury enters the weekend's action with a perfect 7-0 record, including a 4-0 record in GLVC play. The Norse are 3-0 in the all-time series and have not surrendered a goal to the Panthers, a trend that the Norse will be hard-pressed to continue this weekend. The Drury offense has amassed 17 goals against GLVC opponents, while the NKU defense has surrendered just two over the same span. Steve Wilczewski of Drury leads the conference in points, combining eight goals and five assists into a 21 point season so far. Drury is among others receiving votes in this week's NCAA Division II national poll.
A WORD ON ROCKHURST: Rockhurst, too, is unbeaten entering the weekend's action, going 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference. Rockhurst joins NKU in the national rankings, returning to the poll at No. 20 this week. The defense has been the difference for Rockhurst, who are currently on a 430:33 shutout streak dating back to a 3-2 victory over Colorado State-Pueblo on Sept. 7. Hawks goalkeeper Chad Becker is among the nation's best, boasting a GLVC leading 0.33 goals allowed average and .899 save percentage. Rockhurst leads the all-time series, 5-3-1, but NKU is unbeaten in the last three meetings between the teams. Last season, NKU defeated Rockhurst twice by identical 2-1 scores. Rockhurst will host Bellarmine on Friday prior to taking on NKU.
ROAD READY: The Norse have several positive streaks going right now, but perhaps the most intriguing is NKU's road unbeaten streak. NKU is undefeated in its last 19 road contests dating back to Oct. 23, 2005, when the Norse dropped a 2-1 decision to Indianapolis.
LEADING THE WAY: NKU players continue to be among the highest ranked in the nation in various statistical categories.
Steven Beattie ranks eighth in the country in both points per game (2.71) and goals per game (1.29). Senior defender
Tony Ray is 10th in assists per game (0.71), while
Michael Lavric is 10th in goals against average (0.436) and 16th in save percentage (.864).
HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS: The Norse have done a good job of recognizing and correcting issues in the first half. While they have allowed 31 shots to opponents in the first half this season, that number dwindles to 17 in the second half, 21 including overtime sessions.
