HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team kicks off its inaugural NCAA Division I season on Friday against Canisius in Buffalo, N.Y.
NKU joins the Atlantic Sun Conference this year after a 16-2-2 final season at the NCAA Division II level in 2011. The Norse advanced to the Midwest Regional championship game for the second time in three years.
Canisius, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, finished 8-7-4 last season. The Golden Griffins return 16 letterwinners from the 2011 squad.
Friday's game is scheduled to begin at noon.
Live stats and video for Friday's action will be available at nkunorse.com.
OPENING-GAME SUCCESS: The Norse enter Friday's contest with a 12-2-1 record for the first game of the season.
Last season, NKU opened with a 7-1 defeat over Findlay.
Allison Ponzer scored two goals and added two assists to lead the Norse.
Stacie Volker,
Amanda Mason,
Kelsey Laumann,
Olivia Lenzer and
Hannah Adams each added goals to the Norse total.
WELCOME BACK: NKU returns 11 players from last season, including three players that earned conference and regional honors for their performance.
Ponzer, a junior from Covington, Ky., earned first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Midwest Region honors last season. She also landed a spot on the Daktronics All-Midwest Region second team.
Ponzer was the second leading scorer
last season with 28 points. She started all 20 games and collected 10 goals, including three game winners, for NKU. She added eight assists.
Ponzer scored two goals to lead the Norse in exhibition games against Indiana State and Indiana last week.
Stephanie Wengert, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, returns as an instrumental member of the Norse defense, which only allowed 15 goals last season. She earned second-team All-GLVC, Daktronics All-Midwest Region and NSCAA All-Midwest Region honors for her performance.
Kelsey Laumann, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, received third-team All-GLVC accolades for her efforts last season. She added seven goals and seven assists for the Norse for a total of 21 points on the season. Laumann scored game winning goals against Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis.
NEWCOMER IMPACT: The Norse welcome seven freshmen to the 2012 squad.
Martha Staab, a graduate of Clear Fork High School in Bellville, Ohio, scored a goal in the 64th minute against Indiana, and she added an assist against Indiana State. As a senior, Staab scored 14 goals and added 16 assists, which earned her all-conference and all-state honors.
Brooke Schocker saw time in goal in both exhibition games and collected three saves. The Schaumburg High School graduate and four-year varsity starter helped lead the team to its first ever regional championship in 2011.
Ariel Fischer and
Hanna Pateryn also saw significant playing time last week.
Fischer earned the start in both exhibition matches. She received All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference honors as a senior after collected eight goals and three assists for Loveland High School.
Pateryn, a graduate of Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., helped the Mustangs to a 22-2-1 record and state championship in 2012. She earned all-league honors as a junior and a senior.
PRESEAON POLL: NKU was picked to finish eighth in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason coaches poll.
Florida Gulf Coast received five first place votes and was chosen the favorite to win the conference with 91 total points. The Eagles were also chosen to repeat as the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament champions.
