HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team will travel to Oakland on Wednesday for a midweek Horizon League match. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

Northern Kentucky Norse (8-4-1, 5-0-1) at Oakland Golden Grizzlies (2-12-1, 2-4-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 18 – 7 p.m.
Rochester, Mich. – Oakland Soccer Field
 
LAST TIME OUT:  The Norse earned a 3-1 win over Green Bay on Saturday, Oct. 14. Macy Hamblin gave NKU the lead in the eighth minute, and Jessica Frey added a goal in the 17^th minute. Green Bay pulled one back in the 32^nd minute, but Hamblin scored her second goal of the match in the 33^rd minute to help the Norse to a victory.

SCOUTING OAKLAND:  The Golden Grizzlies are 2-12-1 overall and 2-4-0 in the Horizon League. The team most recently fell to Milwaukee by a score of 4-0. Oakland is averaging 0.67 goals per contest, while allowing them at an average of 2.20. Ali Amante and Lauren Bos lead the team offensively with five points. Amante and Bos each have two goals and one assist on the season. In the net, Nadine Maher and Sophia Braun have split time in the net. Maher has made 27 saves on the year and has a 2.09 goals against average. Braun has stopped 28 shots this season and has a 2.21 goals against average.

TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS: The Norse are 8-4-1 on the year and 5-0-1 in the Horizon League. The team is on a six-match unbeaten streak, and NKU has only allowed four goals in those six matches. The Norse are averaging 2.00 goals per match, while allowing 1.15 per contest. In Horizon League play, NKU is at the top of the League in points (51), goals (16), assists (19), and saves (27).

Jessica Frey leads the Horizon League and is ranked 20^th nationally with 10 goals. Macy Hamblin has eight goals on the season, including six in Horizon League play, which ranks first in the League. At goalkeeper, Emily Lohmann has started 12 matches for the Norse. She has made 53 saves on the season for a 0.815 save percentage. She also has a 0.99 goals against average and two shutouts on the year.   

HORIZON LEAGUE HONORS: Jessica Frey was tabbed the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 2. Frey helped the Norse win two League matches during the week. She scored the game-winning goal in the 75^th minute in a 1-0 win over Wright State. She followed that up with a goal against Detroit Mercy just 28 seconds into the match to help NKU to a 2-1 victory.
On Oct. 9, Emily Lohmann earned the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honor. She recorded a career-high 11 saves in the 1-1 draw at Milwaukee to help the Norse stay unbeaten in Horizon League play.

SENIOR CLASS AWARD: Earlier this season, Jessica Frey was selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
 
As a nursing major, Frey maintains a 3.746 GPA. Upon graduation in the spring, Frey plans to work in a critical care unit at a children's hospital. She also hopes to advance in her field by becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Because of her excellence in the classroom, she has been named to the 2015 and 2016 Horizon League All-Academic Teams, as well as the 2015 COSIDA Academic All-District.
 
Frey is also very active in the community. She has volunteered at the Liberty Matrix Nursing Home and the St. Lawrence Catholic Church after school program. She has also participated in the Price Hill Summer Clean-Up, Down Syndrome Buddy Walk, and the "Pause for Parents, Play for Kids" program through the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
 
HORIZON LEAGUE: The Horizon League announced its women's soccer preseason poll for the 2017 campaign. NKU tied for first place in the poll with Milwaukee, as each team received 86 points and five first-place votes.
 
Detroit Mercy, Oakland, Wright State, UIC, IUPUI, Youngstown State, Cleveland State, and Green Bay rounded out the rest of the Horizon League preseason poll.
 
HEAD COACH BOB SHEEHAN: Sheehan is in his 21^st season as the head coach of the program. He is the only coach in the team's history and sports a 305-98-27 overall record. In Division I play, his teams are 53-45-9. Coach Sheehan picked up his 300^th career win in a 2-1 overtime victory against Appalachian State on Aug. 29.
 
Sheehan ranks in the top 40 all-time in winning percentage for women's soccer coaches in NCAA history across all divisions. He is also in the top 60 all-time in total victories for women's soccer coaches across all NCAA divisions. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL YEAR: NKU finished the 2016 campaign with a 13-7-1 overall record and a 6-2-1 mark in Horizon League play. The Norse captured the Horizon League Tournament crown and advanced to play in the Division I NCAA Tournament last season for the first time in program history. NKU fell to No. 1 West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament by a score of 3-0.
 
Macy Hamblin earned Horizon League Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second season in a row. Jessica Frey joined Hamblin on the first team, Katelyn Newton received Second Team All-Horizon League honors, and Ally Perkins was named to the All-Freshman Team. Hamblin, Frey and Perkins all return to the team this season.
                                                   
UP NEXT: The Norse host Cleveland State on Saturday, Oct. 21 for the final home match of the regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Before the match, NKU's seniors will be recognized for their contributions to the program.