HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Marshall. Kobie Qualah added a late consolation goal but the Norse didn't have enough time to mount a comeback.
 
A faint rain began to fall as the match got underway at the NKU Soccer Stadium. Yaw Addai led the Norse out of the gate with a descent effort at goal in the 3rd minute of the game. Addai settled a pass, taking one touch and sent a shot in from 30-yards out that rose above the crossbar.
 
The Norse controlled the flow of the game in the opening minutes, limiting the Thundering Herd's ability to create chances. Marshall's best chance came in the 23rd minute when Connor Marino broke through two Norse defenders and struck a shot on goal. Toby Frohlich, who made his first start of the season for NKU, was able to make the save and keep the scoreline level.
 
NKU nearly broke through in the next stages of the game. Cian McDonald curled a shot in during the 25th minute that drifted wide and Nick McGregor had two shots that sailed north of the crossbar before the halftime whistle. The Norse and Thundering Herd headed to the locker room in a scoreless deadlock after the opening forty-five minutes.
 
The Thundering Herd came of the gates in the second half pressuring the Norse backline. In the 53rd minute, Marshall opened up the scoring with a goal from Daniel Jonah. Marshall's Arthur Duchesne played a through ball in between two NKU defenders and found the feet of Jonah. Jonah took one touch to settle the pass and struck the ball low, just inside the right post. Frohlich had no chance to save the well-placed shot and the Thundering Herd took the 1-0 lead.
 
The Norse tried to rally back quickly after conceding the goal. Cian McDonald led the Norse attack with Addai up front and the two managed to register a few chances on goal. McDoanld struck a long, volleyed attempt in the 63rd minute that was easily saved by the Marshall keeper Dominik Reining. Moments later, Addai took roughly the same shot from 25-yards out and Reining was in the position to makes the save.
 
Marshall added a second goal and sealed the game in the 81st minute. After an NKU foul, the Thundering Herd set up a free-kick from 40-yards outside of goal. Nick Edginton took the free-kick, finding Ryan Forde who headed the ball towards an open Connor Marino. Marino hit a powerful header at goal, which Frohlich couldn't control. The ball bounced into the goal and the Thundering Herd took a 2-0 lead.
 
Kobie Qualah netted a late consolation goal in the 88th minute for the Norse. Jacob Cunningham dribbled through two defenders and dumped the ball off at Qualah's feet. Qualah hit a well-paced shot into the bottom right corner of the goal, scoring his third goal of the season. As the clock was running out, the Norse mounted one last chance in the 90th minute when Austin Pierce sent a cross in the box and found Justin Wolstenholme. Wolstenholme got a touch on the ball but couldn't direct it on frame.
 
With the loss, NKU falls to 2-6-4 (0-1-1 A-Sun) on the year. The Norse will hit the road this weekend to take on Atlantic Sun rivals Jacksonville. The match is set to kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7p.m.
 
Links for live stats and a live video broadcast of the match will be available on nkunorse.com. For a behind the scenes look at the team as the season enters its final weeks, follow @NKUNorseMSOC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.