Week 5 Game Notes | Atlantic Sun Weekly Release
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team concludes its non-conference schedule with a trip across the Ohio River on Friday night to face Xavier at the XU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
NKU enters the contest 4-3-1 on the year after defeating Youngstown State, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at the NKU Soccer Stadium. Sami Rutowski and Casey McMillan each scored first half goals to give the Norse a 2-1 the lead at the half, but the Penguins tied the game in the 56th minute. Katelyn Newton secured the victory for the Norse at the 62:04 mark when she sent a 17-yard shot past the Youngstown State goalie.
Live stats for Friday's action will be available at NKUNorse.com.
ABOUT XAVIER: The Musketeers claimed their best start after six matches since 1990 with a 5-0-1 record before falling to Indiana, 3-0, on Wednesday evening in a battle of undefeated teams. The Hoosiers started the scoring early with a goal in the 13th minute and added two goals in the second half for the win.
Freshman forward Tori Doss and freshman midfielder Maggie Hare have each scored three goals to lead the Xavier offense. Doss owns a team-high eight points, having collected two assists as well this season.
Junior goalkeeper Katie Markesbery boasts a goals against average of just 0.96 and recorded four straight shutouts prior to the Indiana game. She has only allowed six goals on the year while making 29 saves.
LAST TIME AGAINST XAVIER: The Musketeers won the only meeting between the two teams. Margaret Woods' overtime goal in the 98th minute gave Xavier a 1-0 victory over NKU at the NKU Soccer Stadium on Sept. 4, 2012. Kelsey Zwergel gave the Norse their best chance of the game in the 82nd minute, but Markesbery made a diving save for the Musketeers.
Not to be outdone, Cassie Lingenhoel kept the Norse in the game as well when she made a diving save of her own on a Taylor Dearbaugh shot attempt less than five minutes later.
Zwergel let the Norse with five shot attempts, while Megan Frye recorded two shots, both of which were on goal.
SIMILAR FOE: NKU and Xavier have faced a similar opponent during the non-conference portion of the schedule in Morehead State, and both teams earned victories over the Eagles on the road.
Ariel Fischer's first collegiate goal lifted the Norse to a 2-1 victory in overtime at Morehead State on Sept. 6. Newton gave NKU the early lead with a 13-yard shot off a free kick opportunity, but the Eagles evened the game with a goal in the 70th minute. Tanner Ruberg stood strong in goal for NKU and finished with four saves.
The Musketeers used a goal by Hare in the 73rd minute as Xavier defeated Morehead State, 1-0, on Sunday evening. Markesbery collected two saves while collecting her fourth consecutive shutout.
BALANCED ATTACK: After struggling to find an effective offensive rhythm during the first three games of the season, the Norse have since outscored their opponents 13-6 behind a balanced offense. Nine different players have scored a goal during that time with Allison Ponzer, Newton and Rutowski being the only ones with multiple goals. Ponzer leads NKU with three goals on the season, while Newton and Rutowski have scored twice. Fischer, Frye, McMillan, Aubrey Muench, Chrissy Spears and Martha Staab have all recorded goals this season as well.
DEFENSE STRONG: Since allowing three goals to Butler, the NKU defense has buckled down by only allowing six goals over the last five contests and that has help lead the Norse to a 4-1 record in that span. On the year, NKU has limited opponents to 1.25 goals per game and recorded two shutouts this season: Murray State (Aug. 25) and Tennessee Tech (Sept. 1).
Ruberg has been impressive in goal for the Norse this season. She has only allowed nine goals on the year and holds a 1.13 GAA. Ruberg has collected 35 saves from the 110 shots she has faced.
