Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Final Box

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Diego Martinez netted a golden-goal to lift the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting Stetson on Senior Night.
 
Ronald Moss collected a pass across the box in the 102^nd-minute and drove back towards the middle. His shot was blocked, but Martinez came flying through the scrum to lace a well-struck ball into the upper-right corner.
 
NKU improves to 5-8-4 overall and 1-3-1 in the A-Sun. The loss drops Stetson to 7-6-2 overall. Although, the Hatters still sit atop the conference standings at 4-2.
 
"It's a great night for the seniors to go out with a win, especially since we've been struggling to score goals," said head coach John Basalyga. "Getting a win against a high-quality opponent like Stetson is a great way to send them out."
 
Only eight shots were taken in the first frame, five from visiting Stetson and three from Northern Kentucky. Each team put one on target. Cian McDonald had the best scoring chance for the Norse, which he rocketed just wide of both the outstretched hands of Hatters' goalie Paul Ladwig and the right post.
 
Toby Frohich helped the Norse keep SU at bay, punching a free kick from Eyal Cohen over the crossbar in the 18^th minute.
 
Diego Martinez put a shot on goal just moments in the second half, but Ladwig corralled the ball in front of the net.
 
Despite the game opening up a bit more in the second half, regulation still ended scoreless. Nick McGregor put a pair of shots on frame for NKU, including a blast from 30 yards out that went directly at Ladwig. Ladwig bobbled the ball, but secured possession before Yaw Addai could reach the rebound.
 
Stetson led the 90-minutes of regulation with 10 shots, compared to nine for NKU. However, the Norse held a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal.
 
The first overtime period got a bit chippy, as each team picked up yellow cards in the frame. The two cards were the only two issued in the contest.
 
NKU had a great opportunity to open the second overtime period. Roughly 30 seconds into the frame McDonald raced up the right side and approached the 18-yard box. He placed a balled that rolled clear through the box, narrowly missing a connection with Alwin Komolong in front of the net.
 
That played sparked the NKU side and set up the game-winning goal.
 
At game's end, the Norse held a 13-10 advantage in shots and 4-2 lead in targets on frame. Frohlich picked up the victory and evened his record at 3-3-0, while Stetson's Ladwig fell to 7-4-0.
 
Seven NKU seniors were honored prior to the game.  Austin Pierce, Christian Johnson, McGregor, Nathan Sexton, Caleb Eastham, McDonald and Ian O'Reilly donned the Black & Gold kits in front of the home crowd for the final time.
 
North Florida will host Northern Kentucky in the final game of the regular season for the Norse. NKU travels to Jacksonville, Fla., for the 7 p.m. contest, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8.