Michael Lavric (in green) helped preserve a 3-0 exhibition shutout against Marshall on Thursday.
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Irish contingent showed what kind of impact they could have on the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team this season, putting their feet into every goal of a 3-0 exhibition victory over Marshall on Thursday.
Steven Beattie, from Skerries, Ireland, came up with a goal and an assist, while fellow Skerries native
Paul Andrews added an assist and Clonalvy product
Andrew Montgomery put in an insurance marker.
NKU began the scoring in the 17th minute when
Braden Bishop sent a pass ahead to Beattie, who gained the baseline and served a pass to
Mike Jonca, who banged home the game's opening goal.
Ten minutes later, Beattie made it 2-0 by taking a long serve from Andrews and beating Marshall's Greg Walter with a shot that found the net.
Montgomery's second-half goal came in a scramble off a set piece as the Irishman picked up a rebound off the Marshall goalkeeper for the 3-0 final score.
The Norse managed to outshoot the Thundering Herd by a 13-10 margin, though just one Marshall shot made it through to the NKU keepers.
Keith Kelly made the only save for the Norse as he and
Michael Lavric combined on the shutout.
Had this been a regular-season game, it would have leveled the all-time series between the teams at four wins each.
The Norse hit the road on Saturday for their final preseason exhibition against IUPUI. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The regular season opens next weekend with the John Toebben Classic. NKU will host West Virginia Wesleyan on Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Lake Erie on Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.
