HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team travels across the river on Monday to take on Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium in a match that will serve as the birth of the Riverboat Rivalry among the two squads. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and admission is free for all fans.
 
The match will be the first collegiate match played inside Nippert Stadium following a near full-season slate played by USL squad FC Cincinnati. All three organizations will have a presence at the match, including a ceremonial gift exchanged between UC, NKU and FCC prior to the opening whistle and postgame autographs from all three squads.
 
Fans can also enjoy $1 beverages and $1 hotdogs throughout the match.
 
Northern Kentucky Norse (0-1-0) at Cincinnati Bearcats (1-0-0)
Monday, Aug. 22 – 7 p.m.
Cincinnati, Ohio – Nippert Stadium
Live stats | Video
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse are coming off a 3-1 season-opening loss at Appalachian State on Friday. Macy Hamblin struck for NKU's only goal in the contest. Hamblin headed a cross from freshman Ally Perkins to give NKU a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute that lasted until the Mountaineers found the back of the net twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half. They sealed the win with an 83rd minute goal. Norse goalkeeper Emily Lohmann recorded seven saves, while Jessica Frey fired two shots, both on goal.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS: Cincinnati defeated   Dayton to open the season on Friday. Julie Gavorski's netted the game winner with 11 seconds remaining in double-overtime for a 2-1 win. Last season, the Bearcats went 13-6-5 overall and claimed the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship before falling to Virginia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Cincinnati averaged 1.38 goals per game while holding opponents to 0.92 goals per game last year. UC lost leading scorer Danielle Rotheram but returns AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Vanessa Gilles along with junior midfielder Jaycie Brown who had 16 points including seven goals last season.
 
FIRST-TIME OPPONENTS: Despite being separated by only nine miles, NKU and Cincinnati are set for their first-ever meeting on Monday. Cincinnati is the first AAC opponent the Norse have ever faced. With Friday's loss to App State, the Norse are 0-1 against first-time opponents so far this season as they open the campaign with three-straight new opponents. The Norse will also take on Eastern Kentucky (Aug. 25) for the first time in program history, along with Vanderbilt on Sept. 11, which also serves as the first meeting against an SEC opponent.
 
STRONG DEBUT: In her first official collegiate appearance, Ally Perkins connected with Macy Hamblin for NKU's first goal of the season on Friday. The freshman from Amherst, Ohio saw 54 minutes of action off the bench in the season opener and also posted an assist in NKU's exhibition contest at Western Kentucky. Meanwhile, Hannah Fischer, a freshman defender, is also making an impact early after earning a starting nod in the season opener.
 
STARTING IN GOAL: Sophomore Emily Lohmann played all 90 minutes in goal on Friday against Appalachian State where she recorded her first collegiate save en route to posting seven saves and facing 20 total shots on the night. Last season, Lohmann made a pair of appearances and logged 33:46 minutes in goal.
The Norse have depth at the goalkeeper position with the help of senior Brooke Schocker, who posted a 0.72 goals-against average in 18 starts last season, and Kelly Neumann who made two appearances and totaled 38:28 minutes of play with a pair of saves in 2015. Freshman Jennifer Farwell also looks to earn time in goal in her first year with the Norse.
 
UP NEXT: The Norse cap off the first week of the season on Thursday, Aug. 25 when they travel to Richmond, Kentucky, for a 5 p.m. match against Eastern Kentucky. Following the tilt against the Colonels, NKU hosts Morehead State in the home opener on Monday, Aug. 29 at NKU Soccer Stadium.