HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.- After an eight-game road swing to start the 2015 season, the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team (4-3-1, 1-0-1 Horizon League) hosts Belmont (1-7-1, 0-1-0 Horizon League) in a League tilt for its home-opener Wednesday with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 with links to live stats available at NKUstats.com.
 
About the Bruins
Belmont enters the match following a 2-0 loss at home to Oakland in its Horizon League opener. The Bruins' lone win this season came against Lipscomb (2-0, Aug. 28). In Belmont's other matches they have lost to Buffalo (Aug. 30), Drake (Sept. 4), Evansville (Sept. 6), Appalachian State (Sept. 11), Campbell (Sept. 13), Georgia Southern (Sept. 20) and tied IUPUI (Sept. 18). Belmont is led offensively by Rashad Hyacenth with three goals. Raphael Colmanette and Elliot Jones are tied in assists with two each, while goalkeeper Grayson Rector has recorded 10 saves with a goals-against average of 1.61.
 
Against the Bruins
The Norse and Bruins have met only one time in the regular season with Northern Kentucky getting the win 2-1 at Belmont on Sept. 22, 2012. The two teams squared off in a preseason exhibition on Aug. 23, 2014 with the match ending in a 0-0 draw.
 
Inside the Horizon League
With a Horizon League Record of 1-0-1 each Northern Kentucky, Valparaiso, UIC, and Milwaukee are in a four-way tie atop the current league standings. Johannes Jansen and Diego Martinez currently are tied for third in points (Martinez/2, Jansen/2), goals (Martinez/1, Jansen/1) and goals per game (Martinez/.50, Jansen/.50) in League matches played. Martinez is tied for first in game winning goals (1) in League matches played. Goalkeeper A.J. Fleak leads the League in saves (18) and saves per game (9.00) in conference matches.
 
Working overtime
Through the Norse's first eight matches three have been played to double-overtime. In those matches Northern Kentucky is 1-1-1. Two of those matches came in the team's only two League matches thus far with a win over Wright State (Sept. 22) and a draw with Detroit (Sept. 26). NKU's only double-overtime loss came against 2014 College Cup qualifier Bucknell (Sept. 6).
 
Welcome home
The Norse are playing their first home match of the regular season against Belmont. Northern Kentucky recently completed an eight-game road swing to start the 2015 campaign. The last time Norse played eight or matches on the road before their first home match was in 2012 when they played nine during their first season of NCAA Division I. Since John Basalyga took the helm in 2003, the Norse are 7-1-4 in their home opening matches.
 
Last time out
The Norse battled Detroit to a 1-1 draw in double-overtime on Sept. 26 to move to 1-0-1 in Horizon League play. Jansen notched Northern Kentucky's lone goal in the 33^rd minute when Detroit goalkeeper Nathan Steinwashcer misplayed a ball headed by another Titan into the box, Jansen collected the ball then finished to the right of an open net. NKU goalkeeper A.J. Fleak (4-3-1) recorded 10 saves on 26 shots faced in 110 minutes of work in the match.
 
Up next for the Norse
The Norse will continue League play at home hosting Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 3, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The match will be carried live on ESPN3.
 
Stay Connected
For more information on the men's soccer program and all Norse athletics please visit NKUNorse.com. You can also get updates on the team throughout the season by following @NKUNorseMSOC on Facebook and Twitter.