Game Notes

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team hosts Wright State for International Student Night on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. All NKU international students are encouraged to wear their country's colors to the match.
 
The Norse are 1-8 in the all-time series against the Raiders with their only victory coming in last season's meeting. Ian O'Reilly scored from the penalty spot, and A.J. Fleak netted a spectacular goal from a long punt to secure the 2-1 victory in Dayton, Ohio. It was the first time that NKU had defeated a team from the Horizon League.
 
"Every season teams change," said head coach John Basalyga. "The makeup of teams change yearly and sometimes weekly with injuries and everything else that happens during the course of a season."
 
The Raiders went on to go 6-11-2 overall and 3-4 in the Horizon League last season. They went to the semifinals of the conference tournament, losing 1-0 to Illinois-Chicago in overtime. This season, the Raiders have gotten off to a strong start. They are 5-1-1 overall with their only loss coming at the hands of national ranked San Diego State, which was No. 27 at the time. The Aztecs scored a late goal in the 86th minute to secure the 3-2 win over the Raiders in San Diego.
 
"They are playing well and their record proves that," said Basalyga. "Playing at home doesn't provide much of an advantage when a team is playing well."
 
The Norse have been led by a core group of upper classmen this year, but the newcomers are making a big impact on the field. Freshmen Dylan Carss and Diego Martinez along with sophomore transfer Alwin Komolong have started every match for NKU this year. Carss has become an anchor in the fullback position and Komolong, who was also named a team captain, has registered over 550 minutes in the attacking midfield.
 
"Dylan is playing simple and doing his job," said Basalyga. "Alwin and Diego are starting to come around. All of the newcomer are going through a process of getting used to playing in this country and playing Division I soccer. We will see how they progress as we get further down the road, but they are showing some good signs this early in the season."
 
Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium. Following the game, all NKU international students will have a meet and greet with the Norse players on the field.
 
Links for live stats and the ASun.TV broadcast will be available on nkunorse.com. For updates on Twitter, follow @NKUNorseGameDay. While on social media, follow @NKUNorseMSOC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at the team throughout the season.?