ONEONTA, N.Y.- The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team (1-1-0) returns to the pitch for two matches this weekend at the Hartwick College Mayor's Cup. The Norse will face Saint Francis University (Pa.) (0-0-1) on Friday at 5 p.m., then play Bucknell (1-1-0) on Sunday at noon.
 
About Saint Francis University (Pa.)
The Red Flash entered the 2015 season as the 2014 Northeast Conference defending regular-season champions. In 2014, SFU finished the regular season 13-6-1 and 6-1-0 in NEC play. Entering his ninth season as head coach, Michael Casper holds a record of 71-62-21 at the helm for the Red Flash. SFU opened the season on August 28, battling Loyola (MD) to a 0-0 tie.
 
About Bucknell
The Bison are coming off a successful 2014 campaign that saw the squad win the Patriot League championship and earn a berth in the 2014 College Cup. Last season Bucknell finished the year 10-10-3 and 4-3-2 in Patriot League play. So far this season the Bison are 1-1-0 defeating La Salle, 4-2, on August 28, and losing to Syracuse 0-1 (OT) on August 30. In his 17^th season as head coach, Brendan Nash has amassed a record of 154-125-41 as head coach.
 
First Time Opponents
In its last outing NKU defeated first-time opponent Memphis, 1-0. Memphis was the first of seven first-time opponents on the Norse's slate in 2015. The other six include SFU, Bucknell, UIC, Valparaiso, Evansville and Milwaukee.
 
Road Warriors
The Norse are in the middle of an eight-game road stretch to open the 2015 season. NKU will not play its home opener until September 30, when it faces Belmont in its first-ever Horizon League tilt.
 
Fleak Climbs the Record Books
In NKU's 1-0 win over Memphis on August 31, goalkeeper A.J. Fleak notched his 11^th career shutout. Fleak's 11 shutouts now ranks fifth all-time in program history. In two matches this season, Fleak has recorded nine saves bringing his career total to 164 saves moving him into seventh all time in program history.
 
Last Time Out
NKU last took the pitch on August 31, against Memphis getting the win 1-0 for its first road victory of 2015. Calvin Murphy netted the game-winning goal in the 63^rd minute with an assist by Diego Martinez. On a free kick just outside of the box to the right, Martinez whipped the ball in and Murphy headed it back for the score. Goalkeeper A.J. Fleak notched eight saves in the contest, picking up his 11^th career shutout.
 
Up Next For the Norse
Following NKU's two-game swing in New York, the Norse will return to action at IPFW on September 13, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.