DELAND, Fla. – Three second-half goals lifted the Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team to a 4-3 victory over Stetson University in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Sunday afternoon.
 
Macy Hamblin led the NKU offense with one goal and two assists as the Norse improved to 5-6-3 overall and 1-3-1 in the Atlantic Sun.  She took four shots on the day and placed three attempts on goal, while Kelsey Laumann added one goal on two shots.  Eight different NKU players attempted one shot as well.
 
"It was an important match for us," NKU head coach Bob Sheehan said.  "We needed to get the three points for the win. It may not have been the most technical win we have had this season, but we earned the victory and that was important for us going forward."
 
The Norse put the pressure on the Stetson defense early, taking four shots and three corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes of the game.  Hamblin attempted three shots in the early going and almost scored a goal in the 13th minute.  Hatters goalkeeper Katie Hightower turned away Hamblin's first shot, and Hamblin regained control of the ball for a second chance, but Hightower recovered to stop the shot again.
 
Hamblin finally found her opening to start the game's scoring when she took a pass from Kelsey Zwergel for her sixth goal of the season to give the Norse a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. It would remain a one-goal Norse lead as the two teams headed into the halftime break.
 
Stetson wasted no time bringing the game even at 1-all in the second half as Allison Zaccheo netted her first goal of the game at the 45:58 mark, less than one minute into the restart.
 
Jessica Frey made her second-half presence known quickly, sending her first shot of the game into the back of the net past Hightower in the 53rd minute.  Frey's third goal of her freshman season gave NKU its second lead of the game at 2-1 less than four minutes after she checked back into the game.  Hamblin recorded her first assist of the game on the play for the Norse.
 
Zaccheo struck again exactly one minute later when she took a cross from Alexis Trybinski.  After gaining control of the ball, she sent a shot by NKU goalkeeper Brooke Schocker to tie the game at 2-all.
 
NKU took the lead for good in the 70th minute as Hamblin passed the ball forward to Kelsey Laumann, who found the back of the net for her third goal of the season.  Elizabeth Wittwer added the insurance goal, connecting on her only shot attempt of the game in the 77th minute for a 4-2 Norse advantage.  Morgan Shafer was credited with an assist on the play when her initial shot deflected off Hightower.
 
In the 82nd minute, Mara Keomanivane scored the final goal of the game.  She took a shot from 35 yards away, and the ball crossed the goal line as Schocker mishandled the ball.
 
The Hatters finished with a slight 15-14 margin in shot attempts, despite the Norse outshooting them in the first half, 9-6.  Both teams recorded five corner kicks on the day.
 
Danielle Hurme led the Stetson offensive effort with six shot attempts, while Zaccheo took four shots and Keomanivane and Carmen Bernecker each recorded two shots for the Hatters, who placed nine of their chances on goal.
 
Schocker collected her third victory of the season for NKU as she turned away six Stetson shot attempts, while Hightower made five saves for the Hatters.
 
The Norse head to Louisville for a midweek nonconference match on Wednesday at 7 p.m.  NKU closes out the home portion of its 2014 regular season on Saturday at 7 p.m. as the Norse welcome Kennesaw State to the NKU Soccer Stadium for Senior Day.  Links to live stats and video broadcasts are available at NKUNorse.com.
 
CG Bryant and Abbey Scherer will be honored for their contributions to the program on Saturday evening in a pregame ceremony.  In addition, it will also be Local County Night where fans will receive $3 admission with proof of residency in Boone, Campbell or Kenton County.  Kids 12 and under can get in free as part of Junior Norse and Camper Reunion Day.
 
The Bank of Kentucky Center will host an event on Oct. 18 at 7:30 pm.  With this event conflicting with the NKU women's soccer game going on at the same time, there are some parking changes and recommendations for getting to the NKU Soccer Complex:
 
--Fans are encouraged to arrive early between 6-6:30 p.m. in order to avoid the traffic congestion that will increase as the 7:30 p.m. event approaches at The Bank of Kentucky Center.
 
--Parking for soccer will be located in two areas on campus.  Soccer spectators will be able to park in the Welcome Center Garage on campus for $10 per vehicle.   There will also be a $4 per vehicle fee in Lot T, which is a bit further away from the NKU Soccer Complex.  Spectators can choose either lot for the soccer match that evening.