HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky men's soccer team heads to the Windy City for a Horizon League showdown with UIC on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT from Flames Field.

Northern Kentucky Norse (0-8-2, 0-3-0) at UIC Flames (3-5-1, 2-1-0)
Saturday, Oct. 1 - 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
Chicago -- Flames Field
Live stats

LAST TIME OUT: Northern Kentucky played Cincinnati, which is ranked 28^th in the most recent RPI rankings, to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday evening at the NKU Soccer Stadium. Freshman Owen Betz and a strong defensive effort helped the Norse notch the shutout. NKU held the Bearcats to two shots on goal throughout the match while the Norse fired a season-high 17 shots.

SCOUTING THE FLAMES: UIC enters the weekend sitting sixth in the Horizon League with a 3-5-1 overall record and 2-1-0 mark in League play. The Flames are winners of their last two games, defeating Green Bay, 1-0, and Drake, 3-2. UIC posted a 1-0 win over Milwaukee while its lone League loss came to Wright State, 4-0.

UIC has scored nine goals across nine games while opponents have managed 21 for an average of 2.33 per game. Jose Fuentes is the reigning Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week after scoring his team-leading third goal of the season in a shutout over Green Bay. Max Todd has a team-best nine points via three goals and team-high three assists. He is tied for fourth in the League in points. Andrew Putna is the primary goalkeeper and sports a 1.77 goals-against average and .629 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY: In the only meeting between the two squads, UIC claimed a 1-0 overtime victory over the Norse at NKU Soccer Stadium. Manny Chaves, who UIC lost to graduation, found the back of the net in the 96th minute.

COLLEGIATE DEBUT: After recovering from an injury, freshman Owen Betz became the 11th NKU freshman to make his collegiate debut this season after starting in goal against Cincinnati on Wednesday. He is the second freshman to see time in goal as Jared Leyland has made four appearances including a pair of starts. The Pass Christian, Mississippi, native benefited from a strong defense that limited the Bearcats to two shots on goal and an aggressive Norse offense that fired a season-high 17 shots. Betz made two saves and posted NKU's first shutout of the 2016 campaign in the scoreless draw.

Betz joins multiple freshmen who have made an impact so far in their rookie campaign. Defender Wlademir Babaew has started every game, logging 832 total minutes, the third-most on the team. Tucker Monheimer is NKU's shot leader with 14 including seven on goal, and Anders Mathiesen and Bryce Day have each posted at least one point.

UP NEXT: The Norse face a quick turn-around once returning home from Chicago. They play host to Bowling Green at NKU Soccer Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.