HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team continues its road trip this weekend with a pair of matches in Indianapolis. The Norse will take on Butler on Friday, and IUPUI on Sunday.
NKU (0-4) competed in the Flash Gordon Invitational in High Point, N.C., last weekend, dropping both matches. The Norse were defeated by Radford 1-0 in a tightly contested match before falling to tournament host High Point, 6-0. The Highlanders won both of their matches in the tournament, outscoring opponents by a 9-1 margin.
On Friday, the Norse will face Butler University; with kick-off at the Butler Bowl scheduled for 7 p.m. Butler is unbeaten on the 2012 campaign with a 1-0-2 record. The Bulldogs own a 2-0 victory over IUPUI and draws with William & Mary and Bucknell.
On Sunday, NKU will travel back to Indianapolis to take on IUPUI at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. The game is scheduled for a noon start. The Jaguars own a 1-3 record, with their lone win coming against Detroit in their season opener. They have lost matches to Butler, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Canisius.
HEAD COACH JOHN BASALYGA'S CORNER:
On the Flash Gordon Invitational: “It's a perfect example of going down south and playing two teams that are very athletic. We played well against Radford, and at the end of the game we did some nice things and could have tied it up.”
On playing in Indianapolis: “It's kind of nice to just step off the bus and play. The kids can sleep in their own beds the night before, and at least we can focus a little bit more without having to have those tired legs on the bus.”
On having a young team: “It's a learning experience for all these kids, especially the freshman. They're trying to get used to school and their schedules.”
On the tough schedule: “The bottom line is we're trying to get things done that we can do. We can't worry about the other teams; they're going to do what they're going to do. We have to try to get some familiarity with each other. At the end of the year, I think we'll be alright.”
