HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The No. 3 seeded Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team opens the 2016 Horizon League Championship on Monday when it plays host to No. 6 seed Wright State at 7 p.m. in a quarterfinal match at NKU Soccer Stadium. With a victory, NKU will advance to the semifinal round in Milwaukee where it will take on No. 2 seed Detroit Mercy.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids. All students of Horizon League member institutions are admitted free with a valid student ID.

Tournament information including the full bracket and schedule can be found at the Horizon League women's soccer Championship Central.
 
Horizon League Championship Quarterfinals
Northern Kentucky Norse (10-6-1, 6-2-1) vs. Wright State Raiders (6-10-2, 4-4-1)
Monday, Oct. 31 - 7 p.m.
Highland Heights, Ky. -- NKU Soccer Stadium
Live Stats | ESPN3
 
REGULAR-SEASON RECAP: Northern Kentucky closed the regular season at home on Friday with a 2-1 loss to Valparaiso to move to 10-6-1 overall and 6-2-1 in the Horizon League, the same League record the Norse posted last season. NKU's successful campaign started off with three-straight nonconference losses before NKU went on to shut out five of its next six opponents. Friday's loss against Valpo was NKU's only loss in the month of October, as they dropped just one of their last seven matches and tied another.

SERIES HISTORY: NKU is 2-0 all-time against the Raiders, out-scoring them 6-1 in the squads' two meetings. The Norse defeated Wright State, 3-1, less than a week ago on Oct. 25 at WSU's Alumni Field. Each of NKU's three goals came in the first half. Macy Hamblin scored two goals and Rachel Conaway picked up a pair of assists. Jessica Frey also recorded a goal while Samantha Duwel had one assist.

The first-ever meeting between the two teams came on Oct. 14, 2015 when NKU defeated the Raiders 3-0 at NKU Soccer Stadium.

NORSE IN THE POSTSEASON: NKU is advancing to its third-straight postseason tournament. The Norse have advanced to the semifinal round of each of its two previous Division I conference tournaments. Last season, NKU earned the No. 3 seed and hosted a HL Quarterfinal match where it defeated No. 6 seed Cleveland State, 1-0, to advance to the semifinals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Norse suffered a penalty kick loss to eventual champion Oakland in the semifinals after battling to a scoreless draw.
In 2014 - NKU's first season eligible for a DI conference tournament - the Norse fell to eventual champion Florida Gulf Coast, 3-1, in the semifinals after defeating North Florida, 2-0.

This season marks the first time NKU is NCAA Division I Tournament eligible since being granted active Division I status on Aug. 9. The last time NKU won a conference tournament was in 2009 when the Norse earned their seventh Great Lakes Valley Conference title and advanced to their 11th NCAA DII Tournament.

HEAD COACH BOB SHEEHAN: Twentieth-year head coach Bob Sheehan has led the squad to its second-straight season with double-digit wins. He is the only head women's soccer coach in NKU program history and has led the program to a 294-93-26 overall record, including a 42-40-8 record in five years at the Division I level. He has also guided the Norse to a 12-4-2 all-time Horizon League record in its two seasons as a member.

AGAINST LEAGUE OPPONENTS: Northern Kentucky has held Horizon League opponents to just 0.89 goals per game while scoring 2.11 goals per game. The Norse have netted 19 goals across nine games while allowing just eight. They have out-shot League foes 136-94 overall, including 71-39 on goal.

Junior forward Macy Hamblin leads the Horizon League with 23 total points, an NKU Division-I era record. Nineteen of her 23 points have come in League contests as she has scored seven goals and dished out five assists, all of which are League-leading marks. Jessica Frey ranks second in League-only games with 13 points at a rate of 1.86 points per League contest.

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM: Frey, a junior forward, and senior midfielder/defender Sami Rutowski were recently named to the Horizon League women's soccer All-Academic Team. Frey earned the honor for the second year in a row after posting a 3.38 GPA as a nursing major and ranking in the Horizon League top-10 in points, goals, shots and game-winning goals. Rutowski was recognized for earning a 3.97 GPA as a human services and addictions major. She has four assists and is second on the team in minutes played with 1,472 out of a possible 1,562. Rutowski has helped the NKU defense hold opponents to 0.94 goals per game en route to posting seven shutouts.

UP NEXT: With a win, NKU will travel to Milwaukee for the semifinal round at the Panthers' Engelmann Stadium. The Norse will take on No. 2 seed Detroit Mercy at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT.