Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Atlantic Sun Conference Week 5 Notes

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team returns home to host Oakland (Mich.) on Friday night at the NKU Soccer Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

NKU will conclude the weekend with a road match against Youngstown State on Sunday at Stambaugh Stadium.  Kickoff is set for noon.

The Norse enter the weekend with a 2-4 record after defeating Murray State, 4-2, on Sept. 9.  Freshmen Hanna Pateryn and Maria Silbersack led the offensive attack for NKU, both recording their first collegiate goals in the first half.  Silbersack scored her second goal of the game in the second half to seal the victory.

NKU has never met Oakland or Youngstown State in women's soccer.

Live stats for both matches and live video forSunday's action will be available at nkunorse.com.

ABOUT OAKLAND:  Oakland holds a 2-2-2 record after playing Michigan State to a scoreless tie and dropping a 1-0 decision to Michigan last week.

Goalkeeper Shannon Coley earned Summit League Defensive Player of the Week honors after collecting 12 saves while allowing just one goal in two games last week.  Forward Kyla Kellermann leads the Golden Grizzlies with 10 total points after collecting four goals and two assists in the first six games.

ABOUT YOUNGSTOWN STATE:  Youngstown State is 4-1 on the season before hosting Ohio on Friday evening.  The Penguinslost 1-0 to Niagara in overtime on Sunday afternoon.

Forward Rachel Morrison leads Youngstown State with three goals on the season, and all six of her shot attempts have been on target.  Ali Viola has played every minute in goal for the Penguins.  She has collected three shutouts and 20 saves while only allowing four goals.

On Aug. 31, Youngstown State defeated Canisius, 4-0, which also dropped a 2-0 decision to NKU to open the season for both teams.

FRESHMEN PRODUCTION:  Half of the Norse goals this season have come from freshmen.  Along with the three goals scored against Murray State between Pateryn and Silbersack on Sunday, Martha Staab has added two goals this year as well.  Her first goal marked the first for the Norse as an NCAA Division I program.

Ariel Fisher has started every game for NKU and has attempted five shots.  Fisher is one of two Norse players who haveplayed every minute this season.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:  There is another event taking place simultaneously at The Bank of Kentucky Center, so parking near the stadium will fill up quickly.  There are plenty of parking spaces available on campus, but if you wish to park close to the soccer stadium, fans are encouraged to arrive early to park in Lot O by the soccer stadium or the Welcome Center Garage.  Once you enter one of those lots, please inform the parking attendant you are attending the soccer game, and you will be charged the $4 parking rate. 

THEY SAID IT

Head coach Bob Sheehan

On the win against Murray State:  “We are thrilled anytime we get a win this year.  Hanna Pateryn had a terrificgoal.  Allison Ponzer served her the ball, and she had a great strike.  Maria Silbersack picked up two goals after she earned her first college start.  Hannah Adams served a really nice ball, and we were able to get our fourth goal.  Obviously, we are thrilled with being able toscore four goals on the road.”

On the freshmen's play this season: “They've done a great job.  I think it can sometimes be difficult to transition to the college game.  Sometimes there are peaks and valleys as you go through the process.  Everyone gets accustomed to it at different times and at a different pace, but really they've done a great job.  We're thrilled with all of our freshmen as we are with the whole group.  The whole group has worked very hard, and we are trying to get a little bit better each day.”

On returning home after a crowd of 1,210 against Xavier:  “The crowd was tremendous.  It was great to see the youth soccer girls all in their uniforms and the NKU students.  I think that was the best student outpouring of support that we've really experienced in the 15-plus year history of the program.  It did mean a lot to our players, and I know they have tried to share that to as many people and thank as many people as they can.”

On facing Youngstown State:  “We are back on the road again.  We've never really played any of the teams we are playing, so each game presents a new challenge.  But, we are going to continue doing what we've been doing, and that is to try and compete as hard as we can for the whole 90 minutes.”

Hanna Pateryn

On her first collegiate goal: “To be honest, I didn't know that it went in, so it was kind of a shock when people were congratulating me.  I heard that it was a good goal, and it was the first goal of the game so that must have been exciting for everybody.  I'm glad we came out with the win.”

On facing Oakland on Friday:  “I think Oakland University will be a challenge for us.  My hometown is kind of by the university, so I know how they are.  I know they play really well, but I'm sure if we get enough confidence and all the fans come, we can pump ourselves up, play our best and come out with a win.”

Maria Silbersack

On scoring two goals in her first start:  “It was really good.  It was good for a first start, and I felt pretty confident in what I was doing.  They were both really good goals.”

On playing in front of a record-breaking crowd last week:  “It got us really pumped up for the game with all of our fans there.  It was good for our first home game.”