HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (9-3, 5-0 Horizon) is set to host Cleveland State (7-6-1, 3-2 Horizon) for a Horizon League match-up at NKU Soccer Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The match, which is one of two remaining home contests for NKU, will be played as part of a doubleheader with the men's soccer team hosting Valparaiso at 4 p.m. before the women take the field. Both matches are set to air on ESPN3.
Cleveland State (7-6-1, 3-2 Horizon) at Northern Kentucky (9-3, 5-0 Horizon)Saturday, Oct. 17 - 7 p.m.Highland Heights, Ky. -- NKU Soccer Stadium
Live Stats:
NKUstats.com |
ESPN3 | Twitter: @NKUNorseGameDay
Series history: First meeting
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse last competed when they earned a 3-0 shutout victory over Wright State at NKU Soccer Stadium Wednesday evening. NKU thwarted an aggressive Raider offense throughout the match, holding WSU scoreless despite 20 shot attempts. Freshman
Payton Naylor scored her first collegiate goal to give NKU a 1-0 lead in the first half before
Jessica Frey and
Macy Hamblin added goals in the second half. Goalkeeper
Brooke Schocker registered her third solo shutout of the season.
ABOUT CLEVELAND STATE: After starting League play at 3-0, the Vikings are coming off a two-match skid, with losses to Milwaukee and UIC in the last week to move to fourth in the League. CSU's 22 goals on the season are split among 10 different players, with Vicki Havas owning a team-high five goals and 10 points. McKenna Vento is a passing threat for the Vikings with a team-best five assists. The offense averages 1.57 goals per game, the fourth-most in the League while the defense holds opponents to 1.29 goals per contest.
NORSE NOTES:NKU is tied with Milwaukee atop the Horizon League standings with a 5-0 record and 15 points. The Norse's nine total victories are the most of any League team as the squad leads with 27 overall points. NKU also ranks first in eight categories overall including shots, points, goals, goals per game, assists, assists per game, goals allowed and goals against average.
Frey has been strong for the Norse all season and has continued to dominate in League play with 10 points across five matches. The sophomore forward, who was recently named to the College Soccer 360 National Primetime Performers weekly honor roll, owns a League-best 10 points (three goals, four assists) in League contests, at an average of 2.00 points per game. Overall, Frey leads the Norse with six goals and is tied with Hamblin with 17 total points this season – a League-high.
While the NKU offense is averaging 2.42 goals per game, the defense has held opponents to 0.83 goals per match. In League games, the differential increases, as the Norse have scored three goals in four of their five League victories at an average of 2.80 goals per game. NKU is out-scoring opponents 29-10 overall and 14-4 in the Horizon League. The squad has not allowed more than two goals in a single game all season and would rank 17th in the NCAA in scoring offense if the Norse were able to be included in the national ranking summary.
Schocker, a junior goalkeeper, continues to climb the NKU record book in both single-season and career stats. The junior registered five saves against Wright State to pass Sam Westerling (2002-05) for third-most career saves in program history with 117 after entering the season ranked ninth with 70. She trails Rachael Wood (2009-11) who is second with 143 career saves. Additionally, Schocker is tied for ninth in program history for single season goalkeeper wins (nine) and has the fourth-most career wins in program history (17).
The Norse are undefeated at 7-0 when scoring first in a match. Despite scoring first in seven matches, Northern Kentucky has scored 16 of its 29 goals in the second half, while netting 12 in the opening period. NKU owns a 2-3 record when opponents score first.
The Norse will be taking on their eighth first-time opponent of the 2015 season. They have a record of 5-2 in those matches. The Norse defeated Horizon League teams UIC, Valparaiso and Wright State in their first meeting and are set to take on League foes Green Bay and Milwaukee for the first time later this season.
UP NEXT: The Norse will hit the road for their final two away matches of the 2015 slate when they travel to Oakland on Wednesday, Oct. 21 for a 4 p.m. match. NKU will then travel to Milwaukee on Saturday, Oct. 24 before wrapping up the season at home.
