Week 9 Game Notes |
Atlantic Sun Weekly Release
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team welcomes Lipscomb to the NKU Soccer Stadium for the first time in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
NKU enters the game with a 4-10-1 overall record and a 0-6-0 mark in the conference after dropping games at North Florida (3-0) and Jacksonville (3-2) over the weekend. Freshman
Sami Rutowski and sophomore
Casey McMillan each converted on penalty kicks to give the Norse a 2-0 lead just after the half on Sunday afternoon, but Jacksonville responded with three unanswered goals for the victory.
Links to live stats and video will be available for Saturday night's action at NKUNorse.com.
ABOUT LIPSCOMB: Lipscomb is 5-6-4 overall and 2-2-2 in the A-Sun after defeating North Florida, 1-0, on Sunday. Freshman Ellen Lundy's goal in the 76th minute helped the Lady Bisons capture a program-record fifth win.
Lundy leads the Lipscomb offense and conference in points (29) and goals (13), and her goals total ties for sixth nationally. Junior Baylee Linnell follows with 17 points on six goals and five assists, which ranks fifth in the A-Sun along with freshman teammate Alesondra Colbert.
Freshman goalkeeper Anna Buhigas has played every minute in goal for the Lady Bisons this season. She has recorded a 1.20 goals against average and collected 86 saves, which ranks her in the top 15 in the nation. This season, Buhigas has also collected five shutouts.
LAST TIME AGAINST LIPSCOMB: Megan Frye and
Maria Silbersack each collected two goals and an assist to lead NKU to a 5-2 victory over Lipscomb on Oct. 20, 2012 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
NKU dominated possession throughout the game and finished with a 24-11 advantage in shot attempts, including a 16-5 edge in shots on goal. The Norse offense pressured the Lady Bison defense and forced goalkeeper Erin Zerio to make 11 saves on the night.
With the win, NKU concluded its inaugural season competing at the NCAA Division I level 6-11 overall and 3-6 in the A-Sun. The Norse finished the season with back-to-back victories, having defeated South Carolina Upstate, 2-0, on Oct. 14.
CLOSING 2013 AT HOME: NKU finished the road portion of its schedule last weekend with a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., to face North Florida and Jacksonville. The Norse return home for their final three games of the season: Lipscomb (Oct. 19), South Carolina Upstate (Oct. 25) and East Tennessee State (Oct. 27).
This season, NKU holds a 3-2-1 record at the NKU Soccer Stadium. The Norse have earned victories against Tennessee Tech (1-0), Canisius (6-1) and Youngstown State (3-2), while playing Murray State to a scoreless draw on Aug. 25.
RECORD PENALTY KICKS: NKU's game against Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon saw a total of three penalty kick opportunities with each attempt scoring goals, which set a school record for most combined penalty kicks in a game.
Sami Rutowski placed her opportunity in the lower right corner of the goal to give NKU a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute. Just after the start of the second half,
Casey McMillan extended the Norse lead to 2-0 when she scored from the penalty spot at the 45:43 mark. Jacksonville responded less than a minute later with a Julia Burton penalty kick.
Prior to Sunday's action, the most penalty kicks between NKU and an opponent was two, which was set on Aug. 27, 2000 in a 5-3 loss to Missouri-Rolla . The Miners' Lizz Szkrybalo converted on her opportunity just before the half, while Tricia Ruark later scored on penalty kick at the 68:34 mark.
SATURDAY'S PROMOTIONS: Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Saturday's game for Think Pink night, presented by the American Cancer Society. Pink balloons will be sold for $1 and an NKU women's soccer jersey raffle will occur with the proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society, and the balloons will be released at halftime.
