HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team is set for its first pair of road matches of the 2016 slate this weekend. The Norse travel to Loyola for an 8 p.m. ET match on Friday, then turn around to take on DePaul on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Links to live stats are available at NKUNorse.com, while video is also available for Sunday's match.
Northern Kentucky Norse (0-1-1) at Loyola Ramblers (1-0-0)
Friday, Sept. 2 – 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
Chicago, Ill. – Loyola Soccer Park
Live Stats
Northern Kentucky Norse at DePaul Blue Demons (0-1-1)
Sunday, Sept. 4 – 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
Chicago, Ill. – Wish Field
Live Stats |
Video
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse opened the season at home last weekend, playing Eastern Illinois to a 1-1 draw on Friday and falling to Evansville, 2-0, on Sunday.
Campbell Morris netted NKU's goal, the match equalizer, in the 66th minute against EIU on a double-assist from
Nick Perez and
Bryce Day. Both teams got off to a slow start in the Evansville match, with the teams managing three combined shots in the first half. The Purple Aces then struck for a pair of second-half goals en route to the win.
SCOUTING LOYOLA: The Ramblers are 1-0-0 this season after defeating Valparaiso, 3-2, on a Golden Goal from freshman Marius Kullman with 18 seconds remaining in the first overtime period of the season opener. Alec Lasinski and Ryan Walker also found the back of the net in the win. The Ramblers had a successful preseason, shutting out No. 15, Indiana, 2-0, and defeating UIC, 3-1, in exhibition contests. Last year, Loyola had a 10-4-5 record and was undefeated at home at 5-0-2. The Ramblers fell to SIU-Edwardsville on penalty kicks in the Missouri Valley Conference semifinals.
This will be the second-ever meeting between NKU and Loyola. The Norse are 1-0 against the Ramblers after earning a 1-0 win on Sept. 15, 2013 on neutral territory.
SCOUTING DEPAUL: The Blue Demons match NKU with a 0-1-1 record entering the weekend. They host Albany on Friday before welcoming NKU to Wish Field on Sunday. DePaul played Oregon State to a 1-1 draw in their season opener and fell to Portland, 2-1, two days later. Erik Rodriguez and Michael Mojarro netted one goal apiece to start the season. The Blue Demons were 4-10-4 last season and return eight starters to the 2016 squad including Simon Megally who had a team-high 11 points on four goals and three assists. They will look to goalkeeper Quentin Low to make up for the loss of last year's primary keeper, Mack Robinson.
The match will be the first-ever meeting between DePaul and NKU.
YOUNG TALENT: So far this season, 10 of NKU's 12 freshman have seen playing time. Five freshmen have logged over 110 minutes of play in just two games this season including
Eirik Abney,
Joey Sabato,
Jared Leyland,
Bryce Day,
Tucker Monheimer and
Wlademir Babaew. Monheimer leads NKU in shot attempts with four while Day dished out an assist against Eastern Illinois. Babaew and Abney have earned the starting nod in both games this season.
SPLITTING TIME: Leyland, a freshman, and sophomore
Christian Carey split time in goal during opening weekend. Carey earned the starting nod in both contests thus far, logging 90:00 minutes after playing the entire first half of each match. Carey has four saves and an .800 save percentage. Last season, Carey posted 19:39 minutes in goal with one save. Meanwhile, Leyland played the second half of both matches this season and has 120:00 minutes logged between the posts after playing both overtime periods against EIU. The freshman has two saves and has faced 13 shots.
UP NEXT: Following the trip to the Windy City, NKU will take a week off before diving into Horizon League play against defending tournament champion Oakland. The Norse travel to Rochester, Mich. on Sept. 10 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
