HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.- The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team (5-3-2, 2-0-2 Horizon League) battled defending Horizon League champion Oakland (4-5-1, 1-1-1 Horizon League) to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at the NKU Soccer Stadium.
 
"I have to give our kids a lot of credit being such and young team," head coach John Basalyga said. "They kept their composure against a very experienced squad. I am very proud of what they did tonight, very proud."
 
The Golden Grizzlies struck first in the opening frame when Matt Dudley found the net in the 12^th minute. Following a Norse foul, Dudley took a free kick from the top of the 18 yard box clearing the defensive wall and beating Northern Kentucky goal keeper Toby Frohlich to the left giving Oakland an early 1-0 lead.
 
Frohlich would rebound, finishing the first half with five saves on 10 shots faced, while the Norse back line held the Golden Grizzlies to just one corner kick in the frame. The Norse offense struggled taking only one shot in the first half.
 
In the second half, the Northern Kentucky offense stormed out of the gate with Johannes Jansen netting the equalizer in the 46^th minute with an assist by Bastian Beckers. Beckers played the ball to Jansen just inside the top of the 18-yard box. Jansen booted a shot, beating Oakland goalkeeper Wes Mink to the left.
 
The Norse defense continued to clamp down on the Golden Grizzlies allowing only three shots in the second frame while allowing only one corner kick.
 
Moving to the first overtime, Oakland's Matt Rickard took the first shot but Frohlich was there for the save. Ronald Moss returned the favor a minute later but Mink was there to save it for the Golden Grizzlies. In the 99^th minute, Diego Martinez had a shot opportunity but Mink was there for his second save of the first overtime.
 
In the second overtime, Alwin Komolong took the lone shot for the Norse but it was blocked. Oakland took three shots in double-overtime with one on goal. Northern Kentucky finished the match taking eight shots with three on goal, while Frohlich (1-0-1) hauled in a total of seven saves in 110 minutes of work. Oakland took 20 shots with eight on goal, while Mink recorded three saves.
 
Northern Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday hitting the road for a league bout against Cleveland State with kickoff set for 7 p.m. For more information on the Northern Kentucky men's soccer program please visit NKUNorse.com. You can also get updates on the team throughout the season by following @NKUNorseMSOC on Twitter and Facebook.
 
Norse Notes

• Johannes Jansen recorded his third goal of the season, while Bastian Beckers notched his first assist.
• This Northern Kentucky's fourth double-overtime match of the season with a record of 1-1-2 in those matches.
• This was the first time this season that the Norse did not score first in a tie or winning effort.