HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team fell to Valparaiso on Friday, 2-1, in the regular-season finale at NKU Soccer Stadium.

The Norse held the Crusaders to just one shot throughout the entire second period, but it would be too late as Valpo's 30th minute game-winner sealed its victory.

NKU earned the No. 3 seed and will host a Horizon League Championship quarterfinal match at NKU Soccer Stadium on Monday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. against No. 6 seed Wright State.

With Milwaukee's 6-1 win over Cleveland State, the Panthers clinched the No. 1 seed and regular-season title. Detroit Mercy follows in the No. 2 seed after earning a 2-1 overtime victory over UIC, bumping NKU down to the No. 3 seed.

"First of all, congratulations to Valparaiso. I think they played really well and obviously put us on our heels to go up 2-0 in the first half," said head coach Bob Sheehan. "I thought our team responded well at half time. They were much better tactically and their commitment to loose balls and 50/50 balls was substantially better. It led to one goal and created some other opportunities, but it's tough to come back from a 2-0 deficit."

NKU ends the regular-season with an 10-6-1 overall record and 6-2-1 mark in League play to mark the second-straight season with double-figure victories. Valparaiso improves to 9-9-0 overall and 5-4-0 in the Horizon League as the squad clinched a Horizon League Tournament berth with its victory over NKU.

NKU SCORING SUMMARY

• NKU's goal came from senior Katelyn Newton who broke into the 18-yard box and crossed the ball to Macy Hamblin on the right side of the box. Hamblin pulled the goalkeeper and defender out to open up space for Newton to tap in her fifth goal of the season on Hamblin's serve.

BETWEEN THE POSTS

• Sophomore Emily Lohmann recorded three saves in 90 minutes played.
• Valparaiso goalkeeper Tess Barrett matched Lohmann's effort with three saves.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• The Crusaders were the aggressors throughout the first half as forward Cory Griffith would score both tallies within the first 30 minutes of action.
• Griffith struck with her first goal in the 24th minute on an assist from April Cronin. Cronin passed the ball within the five-yard box as Griffith forced Lohmann right and deposited the goal to the bottom left of the net.
• Seven minutes later, Vanesa Abad gathered the ball after it was bobbled around following a corner kick. Abad served the ball in for Griffith's second tally, the game-winner.
• Valpo held a 5-4 edge in shot attempts in the first half with all five coming on goal.

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse applied pressure in the second half, holding Valparaiso to just a single shot attempt coming in the 85th minute.
• Northern Kentucky dominated possession, creating multiple game-tying opportunities, but was only able to find the back of the net on Newton's marker in the 58th minute.
• NKU out-shot the Crusaders 5-1 including 1-0 on goal throughout the second period.

NORSE NOTES

• Hamblin's assist was her seventh of the season, boosting her League-leading and Division I-era record season point total to 23.
• Head coach Bob Sheehan ends the regular-season with a 294-93-26 career record in his 20 seasons as the only NKU head women's soccer coach in program history. He has led NKU to a 12-4-2 Horizon League record in its two seasons as a member.

UP NEXT

• NKU earned the No. 3 seed and will host a Horizon League Championship quarterfinal match at NKU Soccer Stadium on Monday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. against No. 6 seed Wright State. With a win, NKU will advance to the semifinal round on Thursday, Nov. 3 in Milwaukee. For more information on the upcoming tournament, visit Horizon League Championship Central.