HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team will travel to IUPUI on Friday evening for its final match of the regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and live stats will be available.
 
Northern Kentucky Norse (9-5-1, 6-1-1) at IUPUI Jaguars (13-5-0, 6-2-0)
Friday, Oct. 27 – 7 p.m.
Indianapolis, Ind. – Michael A. Carroll Stadium
 
LAST TIME OUT:  The Norse suffered a 1-0 setback to Cleveland State on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Vikings' Elaina Walnoha scored the game-winner in the 43^rd minute. NKU had its seven-match unbeaten streak snapped with the loss.
 
SCOUTING IUPUI: The Jaguars enter the contest at 13-5-0 overall and 6-2-0 in the Horizon League. IUPUI began the Horizon League portion of its schedule with a 6-0 record, but the team has dropped its two most recent League matches to Milwaukee and Oakland. The Jaguars also had a 12-match winning streak until the loss at Milwaukee.
 
IUPUI is averaging 1.50 goals per contest, while allowing them at an average of 1.17. Krissy Kirkhoff and Valentine Pursey lead the offensive attack for the Jaguars. Kirkoff has six goals and 10 assists on the season for 22 points, and Pursey has contributed eights goals and three assists. In the net, Sophia Lipka leads the team with a 0.63 goals against average and 0.873 save percentage in 14 matches played. However, Skylar England has started the past four matches. She has a 3.00 goals against average and a 0.455 save percentage.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS: NKU is 9-5-1 on the year and 6-1-1 in League play. The Norse are averaging 1.93 goals per match, while allowing 1.07 goals per contest. Jessica Frey and Macy Hamblin have been key contributors on offense this season. Frey leads the team and Horizon League with 10 goals. Hamblin is second on the team and second in the Horizon League with nine goals. Overall, eight different players have scored a goal for the Norse in 2017.
 
In the net, Emily Lohmann has started 14 matches for the Norse. She has a 0.93 goals against average and a 0.824 save percentage. Her record is 9-4-1 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.
 
UPDATED HORIZON LEAGUE STANDINGS: NKU currently sits in second place in the Horizon League standings with one match remaining. The Norse can finish no worse than third place. NKU can finish in first place with a win, and a Milwaukee tie or loss at Cleveland State.

1. Milwaukee                    6-0-2 (20)
2. Northern Kentucky     6-1-1 (19)
3. IUPUI                            6-2-0 (18)
4. Wright State                  5-3-0 (15)
5. Cleveland State            5-3-0 (15)
6. UIC                               4-4-0 (12)
7. Oakland                        3-5-0 (9)
8. Green Bay                    2-5-1 (7)
9. Detroit Mercy                1-7-0 (3)
10. Youngstown State         0-8-0 (0)

 
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.
 
 
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 306-99-27 overall record. In Division I play, his teams are 54-46-9. 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: NKU has qualified for the Horizon League Tournament. The match time and location is to be determined.