Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A misplay by the University of Southern Indiana's defense late in the second half helped top-ranked Northern Kentucky University escape with a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon.

Tied at 2-all in the 79th minute, Southern Indiana's Tyler White deflected the ball into his team's own net while trying to clear an NKU cross in the box. The own goal gave NKU a 3-2 lead.

Southern Indiana had a chance to tie the contest in the 88th minute, but Rush Dugger's free kick hit the right post and NKU held on for the road victory. The defending NCAA Division II national champions improved to 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

NKU has now won 14 straight matches, a streak that began on Oct. 24, 2010, when the Norse posted a 7-1 victory at Maryville. NKU has not lost since Oct. 22, 2010, when Missouri-St. Louis pulled out a 2-1 victory against the Norse in St. Louis.

NKU gained an early 1-0 lead when Brodie Steigerwald scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Anthony Meyer at the 10:11 mark. Southern Indiana answered with the tying goal 15 minutes later on Mauricio Paniagua's first marker of the year.

Michael Holder converted a penalty kick two minutes into the second half to give NKU a 2-1 lead, but Southern Indiana countered at the 50:29 mark to tie the game at 2-all when Brock Gourley scored his first goal of the season.

NKU finished with a 19-12 advantage in shot attempts and a 2-1 edge in corner kicks. The Norse have beaten Southern Indiana (1-3, 0-2 GLVC) eight consecutive times, and the all-time series is now tied at 14-14-2.

NKU returns to action Friday when GLVC newcomer William Jewell visits Highland Heights, Ky. Kickoff for that contest is set for 7:30 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium.