HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team hosts Detroit Mercy on Saturday at NKU Soccer Stadium with Horizon League Championship implications on the line. With a win or tie, NKU could clinch its third-consecutive berth to a postseason conference tournament. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. and will air on ESPN3.

The match will be played at the front end of a doubleheader with the NKU men's team, which also takes on the Titans at 7:30 p.m.

Northern Kentucky Norse (9-5-0, 5-1-0) vs. Detroit Mercy Titans (9-6-1, 5-1-1)
Saturday, Oct. 22 - 4:30 p.m.
Highland Heights, Ky. -- NKU Soccer Stadium
Live Stats | ESPN3

LAST TIME OUT: NKU's Wednesday match at Wright State was postponed due to inclement weather. The Norse last saw action last weekend when they earned their seventh shutout of the season, defeating UIC, 4-0, in Chicago. Macy Hamblin scored twice on and picked up an assist while Jessica Frey posted one goal and one assist. Meanwhile, freshman Ally Perkins added a pair of assists while Shawna Zaken (goal) and Kayte Osterfeld (assist) posted a pair of firsts in their respective collegiate careers. Three Norse goalkeepers saw action in the combined shutout, picking up four total saves.

SCOUTING THE TITANS: The Titans sit second in the Horizon League and have won seven of their last eight contests, as have the Norse. Detroit is tied with NKU for second in the League in goals scored with 22, as the Titans average 1.38 goals per game and allow 1.10, the third-best goals-against average in the HL behind NKU (0.85). Anna Mindling leads the team in points (18) and goals (eight). She is tied for fourth in the League in points and is tied for first in goals. Junior Phylisha Drayton follows with 10 points on five goals, including three game-winners.

Junior goalkeeper Marina Manzo has 15 starts and owns a 1.10 goals-against average and .795 save percentage. Against HL foes, Manzo leads the League with a .902 save percentage with three shutouts.

CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS: NKU has three League games remaining, including the makeup date for the Wright State match. To clinch a Horizon League Championship berth, NKU needs to at least tie one of its remaining matches. The top six teams advance to the Horizon League Championship, which is set to begin on Oct. 31 at the site of the No. 3 and 4 seeds. Subsequent rounds will be held at the site of the No. 1 seed on Nov. 3 and 5.

Entering the week, NKU was tied with Milwaukee for first place. Following the postponement of Wednesday's match at Wright State, the Norse dipped to third place, maintaining their 5-1-0 record and 15 total points. Milwaukee (6-1-0) and Detroit Mercy (5-1-1) earned victories on Wednesday to surpass NKU with 18 points and 16 points, respectively. Wright State - the only other team with three League matches remaining - sits in fourth with 13 points, followed by Valparaiso (12 points), Oakland (nine points) and UIC (nine points).

DURING THE STREAK: NKU's four-game win streak is a season-best for the Norse, who have won seven of their last eight contests. Hamblin has posted nine points in the last four games, propelling her season total to a team-high 17. Katelyn Newton has posted three goals and an assist across the last four matches. Time in goal has been split between senior Brooke Schocker and sophomore Emily Lohmann during the streak, as the Norse have allowed 0.75 goals per game while scoring 2.50 per game.
Northern Kentucky has out-scored its last four opponents, 10-3, and has averaged 17.25 shots per match while holding opponents to 6.75 per match.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hamblin, a junior forward, was named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after scoring two goals and dishing out an assist in NKU's 4-0 win over UIC. Hamblin leads the League in shot attempts (45), averaging 4.09 per game, and also leads in points per game (1.55) and goals per game (0.55). Her 17 total points rank fourth overall in the HL, just two points behind the League leader, while she also ranks in the top-five in assists (five) and assists per game (0.45).

UP NEXT: The Norse return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 25 when they make up their postponed match at Wright State that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 19. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at WSU's Alumni Field and will air on ESPN3.