Game NotesHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team is preparing to take on Atlantic Sun Conference front runners Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles currently sit atop the A-Sun standings with a 2-0 record in conference.
FGCU has been a dominant force in the A-Sun for years. They have finished as A-Sun regular-season champions the past four seasons and they have won the postseason conference tournament, qualifying for the NCAA tournament, two of the past three seasons.
"With where we are at right now in the season, it doesn't make a difference who we are playing," said head coach
John Basalyga. "We have to figure out a way to compete and get a win. I'm not concerned with the fact that it's Florida Gulf Coast. Our schedule has allowed us to play a lot of teams that are similar to them so it is up to us to figure out a way to compete this weekend."
The Norse have been unable to top the Eagles in either of the two occasions the two sides have met on the pitch. The first A-Sun match in NKU history was the 2012 contest between the Norse and Eagles. Kevin Walker scored in the 76th minute of the contest to force the 1-1 draw in front of the home fans. In 2013, the Eagles claimed the 1-0 win in Fort Meyers, Florida, with the only goal coming from a Henry Penagos penalty in the 13th minute.
"It so happens that we opened the conference season with two teams that are highly favored," said Basalyga. "Every game we play in conference is important. We could be playing anybody else in the A-Sun and the message would be the same."
The Eagles are 3-4-3 (2-0 A-Sun) overall this season and they have faced some of the top teams in the country. FGCU tied national powerhouse Akron, 1-1, in early September and then found themselves in the national rankings at No. 24. They dropped three-straight games against San Francisco, St. Mary's (Cal.) and Washington but the Eagles are currently on a two-game winning streak.
The match is set to begin at 7p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. It is 'Scout Night' at the NKU Soccer Stadium, so all scouts who show up in uniform will receive free admission. Fans who attend the NKU volleyball match versus Jacksonville at 1p.m. can bring their ticket stub and receive $1 admission into the soccer match.
Live stats are available on nku.statbroadcast.com and the video broadcast is available on nkunorse.com. Updates will be sent out via Twitter under @NKUNorseGameDay. For a behind the scenes look at the NKU soccer team throughout the rest of the season, follow @NKUNorseMSOC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
