HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky men's soccer team will host UC Irvine on Sunday, Aug. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
Northern Kentucky Norse vs. UC Irvine Anteaters
Sunday, Aug. 27 – 1 p.m.
Highland Heights, Ky. – NKU Soccer Stadium
 
HEAD COACH STU RIDDLE: Stu Riddle is in his first season at the helm of the NKU men's soccer program. He was most recently the head coach at the University at Buffalo, where he spent four seasons. Last year as head coach of the Bulls, Riddle led the team to a 12-4-3 overall record. He guided his teams to the Mid-American Conference Championship match four times (2010, 2011 at Western Michigan and 2015, 2016 at Buffalo) in the past seven seasons.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse opened the 2017 regular season on Friday night against Oakland City, and NKU came away with a 2-1 victory in double overtime. The Norse recorded 33 shots in the game, compared to just one for Oakland City. NKU also had a significant corner kick advantage, taking 23 during the match with Oakland City not attempting any on the night. The Norse had plenty of chances to put the game away in regulation, but the Mighty Oaks' goalkeeper made 10 saves.
 
SCOUTING UC IRVINE: The Anteaters played at No. 9 Louisville on Friday night. UC Irvine's Mario Ortiz gave the Anteaters an early lead on a set piece attempt in the 21^st minute. However, Louisville responded with goals in the 25^th and 29^th minutes to win the match, 2-1. The Anteaters return Ivan Canales, who was their second-leading offensive player from a season ago. Canales scored two goals and added six assists during the 2016 campaign. Greg Patenuade played all 90 minutes in goal for the Anteaters in their match at Louisville. He made three saves, while allowing both goals in the contest. 
 
NORSE IN THE PRESEASON: The Norse had a 1-1-1 record in the preseason. On Aug. 14, NKU went on the road and defeated Kentucky 2-1. Tom Suchecki scored goals in the 27^th and 30^th minutes to help the Norse get the victory. Both of Suchecki's goals came from just outside the box. The first goal was a shot from a bouncing ball near the 18-yard line that went to the left of the keeper. He followed that up with a brace from more than 20 yards out to put the Norse ahead 2-0. Kentucky was able to pull one back in the 75^th minute, but NKU held on to preserve the victory.

A few days after the match with Kentucky, the Norse tied the FC Cincinnati reserve team, 1-1. Suchecki converted a penalty kick in the 25^th minute to tie the game and score his third goal of the preseason. The Norse ended the exhibition schedule with a loss to Urbana.
 
FRESH FACES: NKU signed 13 student-athletes to its 2017 class. Jim Barkei, Victor Bjurhall, Felix Komolong, Alex Greive, Brett Wilson, Tom Suchecki, Rikard Lindqvist, Edo Durante, Abdul Kooistra, Jake Minkovitz, Joe Paasewe, Harvey Moyes and Isaiah Schatz will all begin their first seasons with the Norse.
 
Barkei, Koositra, Lindqvist, Suchecki and Wilson are transfers who have played at the Division I level. Komolong, a freshman, is the brother of NKU soccer alum Alvin Komolong. Schatz is also a freshman, and he earned a selection to the U.S. Youth Futsal Team that competed in Costa Rica in late July.
 
TOP RETURNERS: Midfielder Campbell Morris is back for his senior campaign. Last season, he led the Norse in goals (3) and points (6). Senior Dylan Carss and junior Calvin Murphy will once again provide leadership to the defense. Carss and Murphy played 1,698 and 1,666 minutes, respectively, in 2016 to lead the team.
 
 
UP NEXT: NKU is set to host Fort Wayne on Friday, Sept. 1 with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium.