HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky men's soccer team travels to Nashville to take on Horizon League foe Belmont on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at E.S. Rose Park.

Northern Kentucky Norse (0-10-3, 0-4-1) at Belmont Bruins (1-9-3, 0-3-2)
Saturday, Oct. 15 -- 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT
Nashville, Tenn. -- E.S. Rose Park
Live stats | Video

LAST TIME OUT: The Norse earned their first Horizon League point last weekend, playing Cleveland State to a scoreless draw at NKU Soccer Stadium. Freshman goalkeeper Owen Betz earned the shutout after picking up three saves in 110 minutes. Despite being out-shot, 15-11, the Norse held an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal led by Kobie Qualah with three shots, all on target.

SCOUTING BELMONT: The Bruins, a Horizon League men's soccer affiliate member, sit ninth in the HL. Belmont is coming off a pair of back-to-back shutouts over Wright State and Green Bay in a pair of scoreless draws that moved their League record to 0-3-2. Dennis Kluba has a team-high four points on a pair of goals as Belmont's nine goals have been scored by seven different players. Seven of the squad's nine goals have come in the second half.

Defensively, Belmont is the national leader in saves with 98 at a rate of 7.54 per game. Goalkeeper Mertcan Akar is the nation's individual leader with 96 total saves. Akar has started all 13 matches in goal and owns a 2.01 goals-against average with a .780 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY: The Norse lead the all-time series against Belmont, 2-0-1. Last season, Kobie Qualah netted a game-winner on an assist from Johannes Jansen to lead NKU to a 1-0 shutout win over the Bruins at NKU Soccer Stadium.
The series dates back to the first meeting on Sept. 22, 2012 when the Norse defeated Belmont, 2-1.

TEAM LEADERS: In goal, freshman Owen Betz has started each of the last four games, posting a pair of shutouts in that span. In his 387 minutes, Betz has posted a team-high 20 saves and a .769 save percentage. The freshman also leads the squad with a 1.39 goals-against average

Offensively, Qualah has a team-best five points and is tied for fourth in the HL in goals in League-only matches with two across five games. Campbell Morris follows with four points via a pair of goals. Qualah, a junior, owns a team-best .684 shot on goal percentage after firing 19 shots, 13 of which have come on goal. Anders Mathiesen is NKU's assist leader with two as he is joined by Johannes Jansen and Calvin Murphy each with two points this season.

NSCAA TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD: The Norse were recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as a 2015-16 College Team Academic Award winner after posting a 3.26 team GPA in the 2015-16 academic year. NKU has now won the award in back-to-back seasons and is one of 222 schools spanning all levels of collegiate play to have both its men's and women's programs recognized.

UP NEXT: Northern Kentucky hosts Detroit Mercy on Saturday, Oct. 22 for the final regular-season home match at 7:30 p.m. NKU's lone senior, Alwin Komolong, will be honored as part of Senior Night.