HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team will travel to Nashville, Tenn., to take on the Belmont Bruins on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off at E.S. Rose Park is scheduled for 4 p.m.
This past weekend, the Norse faced off against the Pittsburgh Panthers on the road. Pitt emerged with the 3-2 victory.
Nick Toney stepped up in just his second start of the season, scoring both of the Norse's goals. Toney's only previous start was against IUPUI. He logged 89 minutes against Pitt, eclipsing his season high of 60.
While NKU was in Pittsburgh, Belmont hosted the Mafiaoza's Invitational. They defeated Central Connecticut State 3-2 in the opener. The Bruins then took the tournament title with a 1-0 victory over Bradley.
Belmont enters Saturday's contest with a 3-4-1 record. The Bruins were defeated by national powerhouse Louisville on Sept. 1 by a score of 3-1. In addition to their two wins in the Mafiaoza's Invitational, they also own a 2-1 decision over Oral Roberts.
The Bruins are led offensively by Brandon Tarr, who is tied for second in all of Division I with six goals on the season. Nico Olsak leads the team with four assists, and keeper Lou Manning has been in net for all eight matches this season.
HEAD COACH JOHN BASALYGA'S CORNER:
On the Pitt game: “The kids played well against Pitt. They knocked the ball around, put them under pressure a little bit. We had some opportunities,
Nick Toney got loose a couple times and was able to score two nice goals.”
On inserting Toney into the starting 11: “One of the things Nick has done well for us this year is he works very hard in practice, and he's worked his way into the lineup. He's taken care of some opportunities for us. He has a high work rate, which is really what we are looking for.”
On
Kevin Walker and the Norse forwards: “We ask our forwards to do a lot of work off the ball. They help our defenders and our midfielders as much as they can, and through their hard work they create a lot of opportunities for themselves.”
On the tough, early season schedule: “The travel is part of the game, you have to deal with it. Now we don't have any excuses. Before they could use the heat down in High Point, and the fact we're playing two games a week against Division I competition. Now they have no excuses. We should be able to come out and play well; if not, we'll deal with it in practice next week.”
