NKU claimed its fifth GLVC men's soccer championship with a 3-0 victory over Indianapolis on Sunday. NKU has appeared in the last four GLVC Championship games.
Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Steven Beattie worked his offensive magic once again Sunday afternoon, and the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team followed the senior striker's scoring to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship.
Beattie netted a pair of goals to key NKU's 3-0 victory against Indianapolis, giving the Norse their first GLVC Tournament title since 1995. NKU, ranked No. 5 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, improved to 15-2-3 and assured itself of being the No. 1 seed and host for the Midwest Regional, which will begin Friday.
Beattie, a native of Skerries, Ireland, gave NKU a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute by sending a 12-yard shot into the net off an assist from
Paul Andrews. The Norse had several other opportunities in the opening half but held just a 1-0 lead at the break as Indianapolis goalie Justin Roberts turned back several NKU shots.
Beattie, however, struck again in the 52nd minute by chipping a shot from 25 yards out over Roberts' head into an open goal for a 2-0 lead. It was the 20th goal of the season for Beattie, who was assisted by both
Michael Bartlett and
Jack Little on the play.
Beattie, the three-time GLVC Offensive Player of the Year, now has an NKU-record 71 career goals.
NKU capped the scoring in the 60th minute when
Andrew Montgomery – also a native of Ireland – found the back of the net with his first goal of the season. The play began on a throw-in by
Anthony Meyer, whose pass was deflected by Andrews to Montgomery, who finished for a 3-0 NKU lead.
NKU finished with a 17-11 advantage in shots. Indianapolis, the first No. 8 seed in GLVC history to advance to the championship game, finished the season 10-8.
Pairings for the NCAA Division II Tournament will be announced Monday. NKU is expected to meet Quincy in the first round Friday at the NKU Soccer Stadium, with Missouri S&T playing Ashland in the other opening-round contest. The championship game of the Midwest Regional will be played next Sunday.
NKU will be making its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Norse advanced to the NCAA Division II national semifinals in 2008.
