HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team officially embarks on the 2016 campaign on Friday as the Norse travel to Appalachian State. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at the Appalachian Soccer Stadium.
Northern Kentucky Norse (0-0-0) at Appalachian State Mountaineers (0-0-0)
Friday, Aug. 19 – 4 p.m.
Boone, North Carolina – Appalachian Soccer Stadium
Live stats:
AppStateSports.com
PRESEASON WRAP-UP: NKU fell to Ohio, 2-1, and defeated Western Kentucky, 1-0, in exhibition action. Against Ohio,
Jessica Frey netted NKU's lone goal in the 21st minute on an assist from
Macy Hamblin. Against Western Kentucky, goalkeeper
Emily Lohmann made 10 saves and faced 23 shots to help lead the Norse to a win.
Erin Sutton scored the game-winner in the final minute of play after connecting with freshman
Ally Perkins.
SCOUTING APP STATE: The Mountaineers went 10-6-4 overall in the 2015 season and 5-3-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The squad returns seven starters including its leading scorer, senior Jane Cline, who had eight goals and three assists last season for 19 points. App State lost its primary goalkeeper from last season, but returns Sam Steyl who logged 227:42 minutes between the posts with a 0.97 goals-against average in 2015.
FIRST-TIME OPPONENTS: The Mountaineers are the first of four teams that the Norse will see for the first time in program history this season. Each of NKU's first three opponents on the 2016 schedule are new opponents. NKU's Riverboat Rivalry match-up against Cincinnati on Aug. 22 will serve as the first meeting between the two teams. The Norse then take on Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 25 and Vanderbilt on Sept. 11, which also serves as the first meeting against an SEC opponent.
NEWCOMERS: The Norse welcome six newcomers this season, all freshmen.
Hannah Fischer (Loveland, Ohio),
Ally Perkins (Amherst, Ohio),
Emily Soltes (Rocky River, Ohio),
Shawna Zaken (West Newton, Pa.),
Jennifer Farwell (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and
Julia Tout (Columbus, Ohio) join the squad. In NKU's exhibition matches, Fischer earned a starting nod while Perkins posted an assist against WKU.
KEY RETURNERS: NKU returns a strong core of players from its 2015 squad with 20 returning players including eight seniors and five juniors. The Norse return the defending Horizon League Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year,
Macy Hamblin, who bested NKU's Division I program record in assists (nine) and points (21) as a sophomore last year. First Team All-League selection
Jessica Frey, who scored a team-high seven goals, also returns for her junior campaign. Additionally, All-Freshman Team selection
Taylor Spaulding returns after playing in all but 83 minutes of competition last season on a back line that allowed just 14 goals in 18 games.
OFFICIAL DIVISION I STATUS: NKU Athletics announced on Aug. 9 that the NCAA Board granted the department active status as a Division I institution. With active Division I status, NKU is now able to compete for NCAA Championship berths for the first time since the Norse started the four-year reclassification process in the 2012-13 campaign.
PRESEASON POLL: The Norse were picked to finish third in the Horizon League and earned two first-place votes in a preseason poll conducted by the League's 10 head coaches. Defending champion Oakland was picked first while Milwaukee, the regular-season champion, is expected to finish second.
UP NEXT: Following the season opener, NKU travels across the Ohio River to take on Cincinnati in the
inaugural Riverboat Rivalry match at Nippert Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and admission is free.
