HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A goal in the 86^th minute helped Oakland get past the Northern Kentucky men's soccer team by a final score of 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Golden Grizzlies improve to 4-8-0 and 2-3-0 in League play. The Norse fall to 6-3-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the Horizon League.
 
"I think the fact that we played with 10 men for 60 minutes, and we dominated a team that was picked to win the League - it says a lot about the character of our group," said NKU head coach Stu Riddle. "We faced an incredible amount of adversity today, and I couldn't be more proud of our team."
 
NKU SCORING SUMMARY

• Calvin Murphy tied the match at 1-1 in the 73^rd minute. He took a long free kick and sent it over the Oakland goalkeeper into the back of the net.

 
BETWEEN THE POSTS

• Jim Barkei made a couple of critical stops during the match, and he finished with four saves on the afternoon. His record is also 6-3-3.

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• Tom Suckecki tried to put the Norse ahead in the 29^th minute, but his shot attempt rattled off of the crossbar.
• A red card was issued to Felix Komolong in the 30^th minute, leaving the Norse with 10 men on the pitch the rest of the match.
• Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the 34^th minute. The Golden Grizzlies' leading scorer, Austin Ricci, recorded his eighth goal of the season by slipping his shot to the right of Barkei.
• Ricci nearly scored again in the 42^nd minute, but his shot went off of the crossbar.
• The ball bounced back into play, and Barkei was forced to make a terrific save on Travis Harrington's shot.
• Barkei recorded one more save in the half on a shot attempt by Wilfred Williams in the 43^rd minute.
• NKU had a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks during the first period of play.  

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• Murphy sent a hard-driven ball on the ground into the box in the 49^th minute, and forced the Oakland goalkeeper to make a save.
• The Norse had a few opportunities to score on corner kicks, but Wlademir Babaew and Rizwaan Dharsey were unable to convert their header attempts.
• In the 58^th minute, an offside call negated an Oakland goal.
• Suchecki had a nice shot attempt in the 69^th minute, but it was saved by the Oakland goalkeeper.
• Murphy tied the match in the 73^rd minute.
• Barkei made a great save in the 85^th minute on a shot attempt by Alec Greene.
• Greene scored the game-winner in the 86^th minute. A cross played into the box by Nebojsa Popovic found Green, and he volleyed his shot into the back of the net.

 
MATCH NOTES

• The Norse had a 10-0 advantage on corner kicks.
• Murphy's goal was his second of the season.
• NKU will look to snap a two-match skid next week.

 
UP NEXT
The Norse will host UIC on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN3.