HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team (3-2-0) fell to Murray State (4-0-0) on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 3-2. The Norse had trailed 2-0, before tying the game in the second half. However, a late goal by the Racers sealed the win for the visitors.

"Murray State is an outstanding team," said head coach Bob Sheehan. "It is difficult to give up two early goals and expect to be in a match. With that said, our players did compete in the second half and scored two quality goals to tie the match. We are still a work-in-progress and look to learn and grow from today's match." 

NKU SCORING SUMMARY

• Jessica Frey scored both goals for the Norse. She now has six on the season.
• Frey put the Norse on the scoreboard in the 48^th minute. Macy Hamblin's shot from the right side was saved by the Murray State goalkeeper. The ball deflected out to Frey, who tapped the ball in from close range.
• Frey's second goal of the match came in the 71^st minute. A free kick was played into the box by Taylor Spaulding. Kailey Ivins played the ball on the ground through the Murray State defense, and Frey was able to tie the match at 2-2.

 
BETWEEN THE POSTS

• Jennifer Farwell earned her first start of the season for NKU. She made five saves on the afternoon.

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• Murray State scored in the sixth minute to take a 1-0 advantage. Rebecca Kubin made a couple of nice moves to beat the NKU defense, and she slid her shot to the right of Farwell.
• The Racers added on to their lead in the 19^th minute. Farwell punched a cross out of the box, and the ball was secured by Murray State's Harriet Withers. Withers fired a shot into the back of the net to allow the visitors to take a 2-0 lead.
• Murray State tried to add to its lead in the 22^nd minute. The Racers fired two shots in the box, but the Norse defense was able to block both shots and clear the ball up the field.
• Hamblin had three shots on goal in the first period of action, but Murray State's Alex Steigerwald made three saves in the half to prevent the Norse from scoring.

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• Frey's goal in the 48^th minute made the score 2-1.
• Leading by one goal, Murray State continued to apply pressure in the second half.
• Farwell made a spectacular save in the 50^th minute to deny Murray State a goal. A shot going to the upper left corner was tipped by Farwell off the crossbar, and the NKU defense cleared the ball out of the box.
• Less than a minute later, Farwell made another save. A dangerous cross was played into the box, and Murray State's Caroline Ashton secured the ball. However, Ashton wasn't able to put much pace on her shot, and Farwell picked the ball up for an easy save.
• Frey evened the match in the 71^st minute with her second goal of the contest.
• In the 75^th minute, the Racers' Miyah Watford found herself near the goal with a chance to score, but the NKU defense closed in quickly to prevent Watford from getting a shot off.
• Murray State nearly went ahead in the 80^th minute. Withers' shot ricocheted off the cross bar, and the NKU defense was once again able to clear the ball to extinguish the threat.
• The Racers scored the game-winner in the 87^th minute. A high bouncing ball near the box was brought down by Kayla Travis, and she fired a shot to the left of Farwell to give Murray State the 3-2 advantage.

 
 
MATCH NOTES

• Murray State had 24 shots, compared to 10 for NKU. However, each team recorded eight shots on goal.
• The Racers took seven corner kicks in the match, while the Norse recorded one.
• Murray State remains unbeaten in 2017 at 4-0-0.

 
UP NEXT
The Norse will host Cincinnati in the Riverboat Rivalry on Thursday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium.