Kendall Day (5) shares the team lead with 10 goals on the season.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – For the first time since 2005, the Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team will square off against Grand Valley State, this time for the right to claim the title of 2009 NCAA Division II Midwest Region champion.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern time on Friday in Denver, Colo. Live stats and video links will be available at nkunorse.com. The winner of the game will advance to the national quarterfinals, to be played two days later against the winner of the Central Region championship match between Metro State (Colo.) and Colorado School of Mines.
NKU enters the contest with a 19-2 record and 14 consecutive wins after defeating Quincy, 2-1, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Amanda Mason and
Kendall Day scored goals just six minutes apart in the second half, both off set pieces from
Laura Painter, to give the Norse the come-from-behind victory. The win closed out a perfect 12-0 season at home for the Norse and extended NKU's home winning streak to 20 games, a program record.
A WORD ON GRAND VALLEY STATE: One of three undefeated teams advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, the Lakers enter Friday's contest with a record of 20-0-2 on the season. Led offensively by Ashley Botts, who has 13 goals on the season, and Erin Hilbert, who has come off the bench to score 11 goals, the Lakers have outscored their opponents 81-10 on the year. Chelsea Parise will be the last line of defense, claiming 10 shutouts on the season and a 0.47 goals against average.
LAST TIME AGAINST GRAND VALLEY STATE: Squaring off for the Great Lakes Region championship in 2005, the Lakers took a 2-0 decision from the Norse in Wilder, Ky. to advance in the NCAA Tournament. Aided by first-half goals by Katy Tafler and Mirela Tutundzic, the Lakers held the Norse to just seven shots in the contest. The win gave Grand Valley State a 2-1 edge in the all-time series between the teams with neither team claiming victory on its home field.
POSTSEASON SUCCESS: Both the Norse and Lakers have found success in the NCAA Tournament, though neither has yet reached the pinnacle of the national championship. Currently competing in their ninth tournament, NKU is 13-8-1 all-time in the tournament with two semifinal appearances and one runner-up performance. Grand Valley State boasts an 11-6-1 record in seven tournaments, with one trip to the semifinals and a runner-up result of their own.
REGIONAL RECOGNITION: NKU sophomores
Amanda Mason and
Kristi Hofmeyer were each named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II Midwest Region first team earlier this week. For each player it was her first All-Region honor.
LATE-SEASON SURGE: Laura Painter has become an integral part of the NKU attack as the team pushes through the postseason. In the team's last four games, Painter has accounted for one goal and six assists, leading the Norse to wins over Rockhurst, Indianapolis and a pair of wins over Quincy.
