Box score
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Katie Austin's goal in the 58th minute gave Robert Morris a 1-0 victory over the Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team on Friday afternoon at the Charles L. Sewall Center.
Austin created the scoring play when she won the ball in midfield and beat her defender down the right side of the field. She then sent a tough angle shot over NKU goalkeeper Tanner Ruberg and found the back of the net for the game's only goal.
NKU (0-1) had an opportunity to take the lead in the 25th minute when freshman Elle Nguyen's corner kick was knocked off the bar by Robert Morris goalkeeper Becky Schoenecker. The ball came down in front of the goal line, but defender Jenny Eriksson Palmgren beat the Norse to the ball and cleared it, taking away any scoring chance.
Robert Morris (1-0) collected seven saves on the day, including two as a team. Schoenecker saved one shot in the first half, while Chelsea de Jager, who received the starting nod in the second, gathered four saves.
The Norse held a slight edge in shots (7-6) after the first half but took control in the second to finish with a 16-8 advantage. Freshman Katelyn Newton and sophomore Casey McMillan each recorded five shots to lead NKU.
NKU had six corner kicks, but the Norse were only able to produce three shot attempts off the opportunities.
"We are definitely improving, which is what we want to do, and we are continuing to develop as a team," NKU head coach Bob Sheehan said. "They only had one shot on goal during the game, which they were able to score on, but I thought we did a solid job on defense. We had several opportunities of our own, and we just have to learn how to take advantage."
The Norse return to action on Sunday when Murray State visits the NKU Soccer Stadium at noon. All NKU students in attendance at Sunday's match will be entered for a chance to win free books in the NKU Bookstore shootout during the men's soccer exhibition game against Kentucky on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Also on Sunday, the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free 2013 schedule poster, and a Sunday Funday Bingo game will happen during the game. The winner of bingo will receive and NKU t-shirt and a Toppers Pizza coupon.
