HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team plays host to Milwaukee at the NKU Soccer Stadium on Saturday for a match-up between the top two teams in the Horizon League. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., following NKU men's soccer's 4:30 p.m. match-up against Wright State.

Both games will air on ESPN3.

Northern Kentucky Norse (5-4-0, 1-0-0) vs. Milwaukee Panthers (5-3-2, 1-0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 24 - 7:30 p.m.
Highland Heights, Ky. -- NKU Soccer Stadium
Live Stats | ESPN3
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse are coming off a pair of shutout victories last weekend as they defeated Green Bay, 4-0, to open Horizon League play, then posted a 2-0 win over Robert Morris. Jessica Frey and Macy Hamblin fueled the offense in both victories. Frey had three goals and one assist for seven points, followed closely by Hamblin with two goals and two assists for six points. Emily Lohmann earned a combined shutout against Green Bay and posted three saves against Robert Morris for her fourth solo shutout of the season.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Milwaukee currently sits atop the Horizon League and earned a 5-1 victory over UIC last weekend. The Panthers have scored 27 goals across 10 games this season for an average of 2.70 per game. Meanwhile, the defense has only allowed eight goals at a rate of 0.80 per game. Milwaukee is the League leader in shots (155), points (86), goals (27) and assists (32).

Maria Stephans and Callie O'Donnell are tied for second in the Horizon League in points with 14 apiece. O'Donnell has netted a League-high six goals while Stephans has a League-best six assists. Goalkeeper Mallory Guerts is second in the Horizon Leauge in save percentage (.822) and goals-against average (.90) to rank just above NKU's Emily Lohmann in both categories entering the weekend.

Last season, the Panthers went undefeated in the Horizon League regular season at 8-0-1 with their only non-victory coming against Northern Kentucky in a scoreless tie on Oct. 24. The squad's postseason run ended with a penalty kick loss to Wright State in the HL semifinals.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK SWEEP: The Norse swept Horizon League weekly awards this past week as Frey earned Offensive Player of the Week recognition and Chrissy Spears claimed Defensive Player of the Week, just one week after Lohmann also earned Defensive honors.

Spears was named the Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring an NKU back line that posted shutouts over Green Bay and Robert Morris. Spears helped NKU defeat RMU, 2-0, for the third-consecutive shutout and fifth in the last six games.

Frey earned Player of the Week recognition after posting three goals and one assist for seven total points last weekend. The junior scored twice against Green Bay and also had an assist on a goal from Hamblin. Frey then scored the game-winner in the 46th minute against Robert Morris at home on Sunday.

OFFENSIVE SURGE: Across the last six games the Norse have out-scored their opponents, 11-2, with both opponent goals coming from Xavier in a 2-1 loss on Sept. 6. The squad has out-shot opponents 91-55 overall including 37-13 in shots on goal in that span.

Hamblin (4.33) and Frey (3.22) are the League leaders in shots per game and each rank in the top-10 in points, points per game, goals and goals per game. Frey leads NKU with four goals and nine points, followed by Hamblin with three goals and eight points. Meanwhile, Sami Rutowski ranks fourth in the League in assists with four, two of which came last weekend against Green Bay.

SHUTOUT DEFENSE: Primary goalkeeper Emily Lohmann currently owns an .814 save percentage and 0.93 goals-against average, both good for third overall in the League. Her goals-against average has been nearly cut in half dating back to an Aug. 29 contest against Morehead State, when she entered the match with a 2.00 goals-against average.

The Norse have posted five clean sheets in the last six games, including three-straight. The defense has allowed just six shots on goal during its three-match shutout streak. On the season, they rank first in the League in goals allowed with eight across nine games and are second, behind Milwaukee, in goals-against average at 0.88.

Rutowski, Spears, Taylor Spaulding and Hannah Fischer have been staples on the NKU back line, each registering over 700 minutes of play led by Rutowski's 778 minutes out of a possible 822. Katelyn Newton, a senior midfielder, follows with 761 minutes played.

UP NEXT: The Norse conclude their three-match homestand with a 7:30 match-up against defending League champion Oakland on Sept. 28. The match will be played as part of a doubleheader with the NKU men's team at NKU Soccer Stadium. Both matches will air on ESPN3.