Box score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Kaitlyn Bassett's goal in the 80th minute lifted the Jacksonville University women's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over Northern Kentucky University at the Southern Oak Stadium in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Sunday afternoon.
With the scored toed at 2-all, Joy Grove created an opening and passed the ball to Bassett, who sent a shot toward the goal from the edge of the six-yard box and found the back of the net for her 11th goal of the season, which ranks second in the A-Sun. The Dolphins improved to 9-5-0 overall and 4-1-0 in the conference. Grove was credited with an assist on the goal.
NKU (4-10-1 overall, 0-6-0 in the A-Sun) started the scoring just before the halftime break when
Sami Rutowski scored in the 43rd minute. She drew a penalty kick opportunity after being pulled down in the box and sent the shot into the lower right corner past Jacksonville goalkeeper Sarah Sierra.
Casey McMillan extended the NKU lead less than a minute into the second half when she converted the second Norse penalty shot of the game into the lower right corner of the goal, giving her team a 2-0 advantage.
"(Rutowski) was very aggressive and got pulled down in the box and had a great penalty kick," NKU head coach
Bob Sheehan said. "She is very talented and has brought a great work ethic the team.
Katelyn Newton and
Allison Ponzer created a great opportunity for our second goal, and Casey was able to score with a great penalty kick of her own."
Jackonville's Julia Barton, however, responded with two quick goals to even the game. In the 50th minute, NKU was called for a foul in the box, and Barton sent the third penalty kick of the day through the right side past NKU goalkeeper
Tanner Ruberg. She followed with a straight-on shot into the left side of the net to bring the score to 2-all at the 51:45 mark off a pass from Sarah Moghades.
"We were up 2-0 and were really playing well, but give Jacksonville credit for battling back," Sheehan said. "We just have to take care of ourselves and find ways to win and find ways to complete the games.
"I think this is a good example of the transition period we are in. Good, established teams find ways to win games, and on the flip side, sometimes teams find ways to lose games. But, our student-athletes are dedicated and working hard, and we just have to start finding ways to win games."
The Norse offense really pressured the Dolphins' defense through the first 20 minutes, forcing Sierra to make three saves during that time, but Jacksonville ended the day with a 24-13 edge in shots.
McMillan and Ponzer led the Norse offence with three shot attempts each with McMillan placing all three opportunities on goal. Ruberg finished the day with three saves for the Norse.
Adriana Rodrigues paced the Jacksonville offense. She recorded five shots on the day, including a shot in the first half off a corner kick that was turned away by an NKU team save. Sierra collected six saves on the day to lead the defensive efforts for the Dolphins.
NKU returns to the NKU Soccer Stadium on Oct. 19 to host Lispcomb at 7 p.m. The Norse will welcome back former members as part of the NKU Women's Soccer Alumni Night, and fans are encouraged to wear pink as part of "Think Pink," presented by the American Cancer Society.
