Northern Kentucky University Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The top-ranked Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team will open its home schedule on Friday by welcoming in Kentucky Wesleyan. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium.

The Norse will return to the road when they make the trip to Evansville, Ind. to take on Southern Indiana.

NKU is 2-0 coming off two road wins to open the regular season, including one over a ranked opponent. The Norse first defeated Findlay 4-0 on the effort of a pair of goals from Mohammad Salhieh. Ben Rascona and Andrew Montgomery also tallied goals in the contest.

The Norse then traveled to Ashland, Ohio and defeated No. 20 Ashland, 2-1. Nicholas Chiarot opened the scoring in the 50th minute, using a pass from Mason Cassady to net his first goal of the season. Ashland tied the game in the 71st minute with a goal from Jamie Dollar, but Junior Michael Bartlett sent the winner into the back of the net with just three minutes to play, giving the Norse their first win at Ashland since 1996.

LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: Steven Beattie scored six minutes in and never looked back as the Norse cruised to a 6-0 win over the Panthers on Sept. 12. Salhieh, Jack Little and Ruffin Lumbala tallied goals as well in the victory. NKU is 26-4-3 against KWC and has won the last 18 meetings between the teams going back to 1993.

LAST TIME AGAINST SOUTHERN INDIANA: Chiarot's goal in the 47th minute proved to be the difference as the Norse took a 2-1 victory from Southern Indiana on Sept. 5. Michael Lavric made three saves to preserve the victory. Southern Indiana has the edge in the all-time series, 14-13-2, but NKU has won each of its last seven games against USI.

STILL ON TOP: The defending Division II national champions maintained their top ranking in the top 25, as voted on by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. NKU has been ranked No. 1 in each of the last three NCAA Division II national polls.

The men have been ranked nationally in 58 of the last 59 polls dating back to Oct. 3, 2006, and have been in the top 10 in each of the last 13 polls after opening the 2010 season with a No. 21 ranking.

GLVC member Missouri S&T comes in at No. 11 this week, moving up from No. 13 last week.

ON A ROLL: The Norse have now won 12 straight matches, a streak that began on Oct. 24th last season at Maryville, when the Norse won 7-1.

SCORING VARIETY: The big question coming into 2011 was who would replace Steven Beattie's goals. So far, the answer has been found in number of players. Five different players scored goals last weekend, with Mohammed Salhieh's two being the team leader thus far.

EXPERIENCED DEFENSE: The Norse will have plenty of experience among the men on the “Norse Wall.” Seniors Anthony Meyer, Kevin Donnelly, and Tommy Barrick will join freshman Ian O'Reilly in the back four this season.