Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Ben Rascona's first-half goal gave the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Missouri-St. Louis on Friday evening.

With the win, NKU improved to 13-2 overall and 11-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.  The Norse clinched not only a berth in the GLVC Tournament, but a first-round home game as well.

The junior scored his goal in the 17th minute on a corner kick play for the Norse.  After a scramble for the ball, Brodie Steigerwald had his shot deflected away, but right to Rascona's feet for the finish.

“The ball got headed around a couple of times,” said Rascona, describing his fourth goal of the season.  “Brodie found it on his foot and tried to hit it home, I was just in the right place in the right time.”

“We were working on set pieces this morning,” added head coach John Basalyga.  “I was telling [assistant coach Eric Busener] that we had better score on one of these eventually.”

The game marked the sixth time the Norse have been on the winning side of a 1-0 decision in 2011.  The defense had another stellar game, as Ben Dorn made four saves in the victory.

Perhaps the game's most tense moment came in the final seconds as UMSL (7-5-3, 6-5-2 GLVC) earned a free kick from about 50 yards out.  Logan Ream put a good shot on the frame looking to sneak the ball just under the crossbar, but Dorn was up to the task and made the save to preserve NKU's clean sheet.

“UMSL has beaten us the last two years, so this was a big game to the the monkey off our backs,” said Basalyga, who saw his team lose to the Tritons by 2-1 scores in each of the last two seasons.

The Norse now prepare for Sunday's GLVC contest against Maryville.  The 2:30 p.m. kickoff will be preceded by a special ceremony to honor the senior class of 2011.  Tommy Barrick, Kevin Donnelly, Stephen McGill, Anthony Meyer and Andrew Montgomery will play their final regular-season home games in an NKU uniform this weekend.