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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Brendan Murphy and
Michael Bartlett each scored a goal to help lead the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over IPFW on Tuesday night.
The Norse (3-7-1) controlled possession for much of the match. NKU outshot the Mastodons (0-12-1) by a margin of 17-7 and had 10 shots on goal. The Norse offense forced IPFW goalkeeper Brandon Cloutier to make seven saves. Bartlett led the Norse offense with three shots, including his goal.
NKU opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Murphy, who was just brought on as a substitute four minutes prior to his goal, took a pass from Nick Chiarot and fired a shot from 25 yards out and beat Cloutier to the near post.
Yaw Addai fed a pass to Chiarot and also received an assist on the play. The goal was Murphy's first of the season.
At halftime, the score remained 1-0.
Soon after play resumed in the second half, the Norse found their second goal. In the 49th minute, the ball bounced out to Bartlett, who rocketed a shot past Cloutier from 25 yards to give NKU the 2-0 advantage.
“Mike's one of those kids that does his business, and it was a nice half-volley he had (on his goal)” said NKU head coach
John Basalyga about Bartlett's goal. “I'm really pleased for him that his hard work has paid off with tonight's goal.”
The score would prove to be the final margin, as NKU picked up its third victory of the season. After starting 0-6, the Norse have gone 3-1-1 over their last five matches. Over that span, NKU has outscored its opponents, 7-3.
Murphy spoke about the team's progression over the last three weeks.
“The bond within the team is very nice,” Murphy said. “We're really starting to gel together. It took awhile to get used to each other's traits, but I think we're really progressing as a team.”
NKU hits the road to resume Atlantic Sun Conference play this weekend. The Norse travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to take on North Florida on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
