HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (4-0) returns to action on Friday, Sept. 11 when it travels to take on Illinois (5-1) at Illinois Soccer Stadium at 8 p.m. ET.

The match is the final nonconference tilt before NKU opens Horizon League play on Sept. 18 at Youngstown State. The match is also NKU's first contest since Aug. 30, due to a cancelation on Sept. 4 when the Norse were slated to take on Xavier at home.

Friday, Sept. 11 – NKU (4-0) at Illinois (5-1)
Champaign, Ill. -- Illinois Soccer Stadium
Live stats: FightingIllini.com | Video: FightingIllini.com | Twitter: @NKUNorseGameDay
Series history: First meeting

LAST TIME OUT: The Norse earned a pair of shutout victories over The Citadel and Charleston Southern by scores of 4-0 and 1-0. Against The Citadel, redshirt junior Aubrey Muench scored a pair of goals to lead the Norse to their victory over the Bulldogs. At Charleston Southern, Schocker recorded four saves en route to posting her first solo shutout of the season. Junior Katelyn Newton netted her first goal of the season on an assist from sophomore Jessica Frey 50 seconds into the start of the second half for the 1-0 win.

ABOUT ILLINOIS: The Illini (5-1) split their last weekend of action at the Husky Nike Invitational where they suffered their first loss of the season, coming against Washington by a score of 2-1. Illinois went on to defeat Portland, 1-0 in its most recent match. Redshirt senior Jannelle Flaws scored Illinois' lone goal against Portland and leads all of NCAA Division I in points (19), goals (eight), and game-winning goals (four). Flaws has scored a goal in four of Illinois' six contests, including a hat trick against Saint Louis. Clair Wheatley is the only Illini goalkeeper to see action between the posts this season, totaling 540:00 minutes, two shutouts and a .806 save percentage.

NORSE NOTES:

Not only will Friday's match be the first meeting between Illinois and NKU, but it also marks the program's first contest against a Big Ten opponent. Illinois is one of 10 new opponents included on the 2015 slate. The Norse are a perfect 2-0 this season in first-time meetings after earning wins over The Citadel and Charleston Southern. Of the 10 new opponents, six are members of the Horizon League.

Despite playing just four matches, tied with Milwaukee for the least number of matches played in the Horizon League, NKU leads in total points (46), assists (18) and total shots (101). Cleveland State ranks second in each category with 43 total points, 11 assists and 86 shots through seven contests. NKU is also the only undefeated Horizon League team and the only squad to eclipse three wins so far.

Just one week out from beginning Horizon League play, sophomore Macy Hamblin ranks first in the League in multiple categories. The categories include shots and shots per game (29/7.25), points and points per game (eight/2.00) and assists and assists per game (four/1.00).

Fifteen different Norse have at least one point through the first four games, while seven different players have at least three points. The freshman class is responsible for 13 of the squad's 46 total points while sophomores Hamblin (eight) and Frey (seven) lead NKU.

NKU's 4-0 streak to open the 2015 slate is the strongest season-opening record since the Norse won six-straight at the beginning of the 2007 campaign. The streak is also tied for the best in a Division I season. Last year, NKU earned four-straight victories in shutout fashion during its run to the Atlantic Sun Semifinal round before falling to 2014 A-Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast, 3-1.

The current win streak also includes three-straight shutouts as the defense has not allowed a goal in the last 295 minutes of action. Against Charleston Southern, Schocker posted her first solo shutout of the season and fifth of her career.Schocker paired with Neumann for a combined shutout in NKU's two games prior, against The Citadel and Eastern Illinois. Schocker has recorded a team-high 321:32 minutes between the posts and has eight saves.

NKU is out-shooting opponents 101-26 overall and 50-11 on goal while outscoring them, 14-1. Sophomore Macy Hamblin leads in shots (29) and shots on goal (15), while Frey leads in goals scored (three).

UP NEXT: The Norse open Horizon League play for the first time with a trip to Youngstown State on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. NKU will then return home on Sunday, Sept. 20 to take on nonconference opponent Toledo at 1 p.m. to wrap up the weekend.