HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (2-0-0) looks to remain unbeaten as it travels to The Citadel and Charleston Southern for matches this weekend.

NKU takes on The Citadel at WLI field at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 before battling the Buccaneers Sunday at 1 p.m. at CSU Soccer Field.

Friday, Aug. 28 - NKU (2-0-0) at The Citadel (0-2-0) -- 5:30 p.m.
Charleston, S.C. -- WLI Field
Video | Live stats
Series history:  First meeting

Sunday, Aug. 30 - NKU at Charleston Southern (0-0-1) -- 1 p.m.
Charleston, S.C. -- CSU Soccer Field
Video | Live stats
Series history:  First meeting
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse earned a pair of season-opening victories beginning with a 3-1 win over IPFW at home. In the match, NKU was led by sophomore forward Jessica Frey with two goals and sophomore forward Macy Hamblin who dished out an assists on each of NKU's three goals. The Norse held a 3-0 advantage until the Mastodons spoiled the shutout bid in the 66th minute for the 3-1 result.
The second victory of the weekend came in shutout fashion against Eastern Illinois as the Norse defeated the Panthers, 6-0. Each of NKU's six goals were scored by a different player, including three freshmen. Freshman Brianna Frondorf and senior Casey McMillan each led offensively with one goal and an assist while goalkeepers Brooke Schocker and Kelly Neumann split time in goal.

ABOUT THE CITADEL: The Bulldogs (0-2-0) are coming off a pair of losses on the road to UNC Asheville and USC Upstate last weekend. They have been shutout in both of their matches thus far, and are led offensively by senior midfielder Andrea Davila with four shots, two on goal. The Citadel posted a 7-14-0 overall record last season and return 12 from the 2014 squad after losing its top two scorers.

ABOUT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Buccaneers (0-0-1) have one regular season match under their belt after playing Wofford to a 2-2 draw despite being out-shot, 21-12. Junior forward Anna Sells scored both of CSU's goals after firing a team-high five shots including three shots on goal. Sells paced the Buccaneer offense last season with 11 goals and a total of 23 points. The Buccaneers posted a 5-12-1 overall record last year.

NORSE NOTES:

Frey, a sophomore forward, was named the Horizon League Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals between NKU's opening pair of matches. Frey scored two goals in a 3-1 victory over IPFW to open the season, and netted another on the road against Eastern Illinois. The forward posted a .500 shot percentage and sits atop the League with six points. Frey totaled 11 points (five goals, one assist) last season.

Each of NKU's six freshman field players made an immediate impact, led by Frondorf who netted her first collegiate goal and picked up an assist against Eastern Illinois. Midfielders Erin Sutton and Samantha Duwel also scored their first collegiate goals to notch two points apiece on the weekend. Rachel Conaway registered two points while Payton Naylor followed with one after dishing out an assist against IPFW. NKU's lone freshman defender, Taylor Spaulding, leads the Norse in minutes played at 162.

In their weekend debut, the Norse set a Division I program record in shots on goal with 19 against EIU and a record in total shots with 30 against IPFW. The Norse offense also tied the Division I benchmark in single game goals with six in the shutout against Eastern Illinois. The current 2-0-0 record is NKU's best start to a Division I season. The Norse were 1-0-1 after two games in 2014.

NKU has issued back-to-back strong performances on both sides of the ball in its first two outings, out-shooting opponents 56-13 overall and 28-6 on goal. The offensive barrage has been a combined effort as fifteen different Norse have managed a shot already this season, while 12 have a shot on goal. The NKU defense has allowed just 13 shots and one goal over two games. Schocker, a redshirt junior, shared time in goal with Neumann for a combined shutout against EIU.

Following a trip to Charleston, Ill. last weekend, the Norse are set to travel to Charleston, S.C. for their longest road trip of the season. The trek to Charleston is 620 miles, totaling 1,240 miles round trip. The Norse will spend far less time traveling in comparison to past Division I seasons due to the switch to the Horizon League. The squad will be hosting the farthest away Horizon League foe, Green Bay, making Milwaukee NKU's farthest conference trip at 404 miles.

The Citadel and CSU are two of 10 opponents on the 17-game schedule that the NKU women's soccer program has never faced off against before. Of the 10 new opponents, six are a member of the Horizon League. The Norse will also take on their first Big Ten team in program history when they travel to Illinois on Sept. 11.

UP NEXT: NKU returns home to host crosstown rival Xavier at NKU Soccer Stadium on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.