HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team heads to the road for a late non-conference game against UNC-Asheville on Wednesday Oct. 30. The Norse will then return home on Saturday Nov. 2 to play their final home game of the 2013 season against Atlantic Sun rival Mercer.
The Norse are coming off of two straight wins against East Tennessee State and Jacksonville. They are on a five game unbeaten run and have gone 4-1-2 in the month of October. They will head to Asheville, N.C. for the first time in their program's history to take on the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are 4-11 (1-6 Big South) this season. The game will be NKU's fifth game in twelve days.
"The reason we are playing so many games in because of the transition," said head coach
John Basalyga. "We try to play as many teams as we can no matter what level they are at. That is the only way you can gain experience and learn to compete at this level."
NKU will then return home for its final home contest of the season. They will take on A-Sun rivals Mercer who are currently 3-12-1 (1-4-1 A-Sun) this year. The Norse were defeated by Mercer 2-1 last season in Macon, Ga as the Bears ended the season in 2nd-place in the conference with a 11-7-2 (6-2 A-Sun) record. They would go on to lose in the conference championship game 1-0 to Florida Gulf Coast.
"The coach at Mercer has his team both physically tough and mentally tough," said Basalyga. "This conference has proven that you can't take a night off, no matter who you are. No matter who we play that night, there is pressure to win."
The Norse have found themselves tied for first in the Atlantic Sun with FGCU. NKU is 4-1-1 in conference this season with their only loss coming against FGCU in Fort Meyers. Their four conference wins this season matches the total they had in 2012 and with two conference games remaining, the Norse look in a position to improve on last season's tally.
"The only time you can reflect on a season is when its over," said Basalyga. "We have to take it one game at a time, one half at a time. I don't think about what our record is. We just have to keep looking forward. I don't look in the past because the past will bite you. It's not what you did that matters, it's what you are going to do."
Live stats for the Asheville game will be available on nkunorse.com. Stats and a live video broadcast will be available for the Mercer game on nkunorse.com and asun.tv. Promotions for the Mercer game include: Campbell County Night – All Campbell County residence receive $1 admission and Camper Reunion Night – 2013 NKU summer campers receive FREE admission.
For updates on the NKU men's soccer team, follow @NKUNorseMSOC on Twitter and also follow @NKUNorse on Twitter for all updates and news concerning NKU athletics.
