HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team begins the season Sunday at 11 a.m. by playing host to Concord (W.Va.) at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky.
NKU posted a 16-4 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Norse are ranked 20th nationally in the NCAA Division II preseason poll.
NKU is picked second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll. The GLVC coaches selected defending league champion Wisconsin-Parkside as the favorite in the preseason poll.
200 & COUNTING: NKU head coach
Bob Sheehan enters the season with a 200-47-13 record in 12 years with the Norse. Sheehan became the 12th coach in Division II history to amass 200 wins when his Norse knocked off Rockhurst, 1-0, during the NCAA Tournament last season. He is currently the fifth winningest coach in Division II history with a .794 winning percentage.
Sheehan, who started the NKU program in 1997, has guided his team to six GLVC championships. The Norse have also advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four three times (1999, 2000, 2001) during his tenure. Sheehan's 2000 squad finished as national runner-up.
ASSIST TO DOSS: NKU senior forward/midfielder
Brandi Doss collected 15 assists last season and ranked second nationally in the NCAA Division II statistics with an average of 0.75 assists per game.
EXPERIENCED SENIOR: NKU senior forward
Ashley Warndorf returns for her fifth season with the Norse. Warndorf played in three games in 2005 before suffering a season-ending injury. She was then granted a medical redshirt. Earlier that season, Warndorf tied a school record by scoring four goals in her second game against Concord (W.Va.).
A year ago, Warndorf netted four goals and added three assists.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST CONCORD: On Aug. 28, 2008, NKU rallied from a 2-0 deficit to knock off Concord, 3-2, at Athens, W.Va.
Samantha Sutkamp snapped a 2-all deadlock in the 74th minute with a goal that lifted NKU to the win.
NKU is 5-0 all-time against Concord. The Mountain Lions posted a 12-8-1 overall record last season and were 9-1 in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
OPENING ACT: NKU is 10-2 all-time in season openers.
