NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Aubrey Muench scored two goals to lift the Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Lipscomb University on Friday night at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
 
NKU ensured its first berth to the Atlantic Sun Championship with the win as the Norse earned the fifth seed by defeating Lipscomb.
 
Muench opened the game's scoring for NKU, which improved to 7-7-3 overall and 3-3-1 in the Atlantic Sun, in the 30th minute.  Lipscomb goalkeeper Anna Buhigas attempted to stop Muench's shot attempt, but the shot rolled by her and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Norse advantage at the 29:40 mark.  Hanna Pateryn was credited with the assist on the play.
 
NKU goalkeeper Brooke Schocker made four saves in the first half to keep the one-goal lead through the halftime break.  The Bisons placed their first goal on target in the 11th minute and threatened as the seconds counted down in the opening stanza.  Shelby Auterhoff placed her second shot attempt of the half on goal, but Schocker was able to make the stop.
 
Less than five minutes into the second half, the Norse extended their lead.  Kelsey Laumann served the ball in to Muench.  Muench then sent her second shot of the game past Buhigas and across the goal line for her fourth goal of the season, giving NKU a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute.
 
"Aubrey had a big night for us," NKU head coach Bob Sheehan said.  "She finished off a pass from Hanna for a very important goal for us in the first half to give us the advantage at halftime.  Then, in the second half, Aubrey had a nice one-touch finish off a volley from Kelsey Laumann to put us up 2-0, and we were able to maintain that lead."
 
Muench led the NKU offense with her two goals and five shot attempts, while Jessica Frey took three shots and Jaclyn Elmore added two chances.  Schocker stood strong in goal for the Norse to earn her fifth win of the season and ended the night with nine saves to up her season total to 58.
 
Lipscomb, which fell to 10-6-2 overall and 4-2-1 in the Atlantic Sun, finished with a 27-13 advantage in shot attempts, led by Jade Abarca's five.  Caroline Chadwell and Anna Lail each took four shots for the Bisons, while Baylee Linnell and Paige Miller each took three apiece.  Buhigas allowed the two Norse goals and collected four saves on the night.
 
"Lipscomb is an outstanding team, and they came out and put us under a lot of pressure first half," Sheehan said.  "We need to learn a lesson from that, but I felt like the team regrouped in the second half.  They came out with much more commitment and resolve to compete at a higher level, and I think they did that."
 
"Hanna Pateryn was very important for us off the bench tonight.  She provided us with some toughness in midfield.  She was winning balls in the midfield, and she was starting attacks for us.  Our backline, led by Maria Silbersack, did an excellent job defending Lipscomb, and I thought Brooke was very good in goal for us."
 
NKU concludes the 2014 regular season on Tuesday as the Norse travel to Detroit, Michigan, to take on Detroit Mercy in one final nonconference tune up before the Atlantic Sun Championship begins.  The match is set to begin at 3 p.m. with live stats available at NKUNorse.com.  Follow @NKUNorseGameDay on Twitter for live updates during the contest as well.
 
The Norse will then shift their focus to their first Atlantic Sun Championship appearance, which is scheduled for Nov. 1.  Florida Gulf Coast and Lipscomb earned the top-two seeds and will each receive a bye for the first round, while Jacksonville and North Florida finished third and fourth, respectively.  Kennesaw State defeated USC Upstate on Friday night for the sixth and final spot in the tournament.
 
NKU will travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to face North Florida in the opening round.  The official time for the contest will be released at a later date.

"Once announcement was made [that NKU would be eligible for the Atlantic Sun Championship], I sent an email to our players describing the situation," Sheehan said.  "Qualifying for the tournament immediately became the team goal.  Going into the last three games of conference play, we only had one point on a tie against USC Upstate.  We were sitting tied for eighth place, but I have to give credit to our players because they continued to work hard and stayed focused on their goal.  They earned nine points over last our last three matches, including two shutouts against two tough teams in Kennesaw State and Lispcomb.
 
"Our players have gained more confidence over the last few weeks, and it's nice to have that added momentum heading into the Atlantic Sun tournament."