DETROIT, Mich. – Two first-half goals helped the Northern Kentucky women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Detroit Mercy on Saturday afternoon. With the win, NKU moves to 7-4-0 overall and 4-0-0 in the Horizon League. The Titans fall to 3-9-1 and 0-4-0 in League play.

"Our players worked exceptionally hard to earn three points against a tough opponent on their home field," said NKU head coach Bob Sheehan. "We scrapped out an important road victory."
 
NKU SCORING SUMMARY

• Jessica Frey scored her ninth goal of the season just 28 seconds into the match. Macy Hamblin headed the ball to Frey, who raced past the Detroit Mercy defense and fired a shot by the goalkeeper. Samantha Duwel also earned an assist on the play.
• With the score tied 1-1, Shawna Zaken gave the Norse the lead back in the 35^th minute. A cross played into the box by Payton Naylor found Zaken, who tapped the ball in from close range.

BETWEEN THE POSTS

• Emily Lohmann faced 12 shots and made five saves on the afternoon. Her record improves to 7-3-0.  

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• Frey gave the Norse the lead 28 seconds into the match.
• Samantha Duwel had a shot on goal in the sixth minute, but her attempt was saved by the Detroit Mercy goalkeeper.
• Moments later, Ally Perkins fired a shot, but her attempt was to the left of the frame.
• Hamblin took her first shot of the match in the 13^th minute from 30 yards out, but her shot was also left of the goal.
• Payton Naylor had a nice attempt in the 17^th minute. The ball was played to the left side, and she fired her shot just high of the net.
• Lohmann was forced to make a save in the 20^th minute. Detroit Mercy's Kelli Doyle took a shot attempt, but it went right to Lohmann.
• Detroit Mercy's Suzie Redick evened the score in the 34^th minute on an assist by Phylisha Drayton.
• Shawna Zaken gave the lead back to the Norse in the 35^th minute.
• Lohmann made another save in the 37^th minute. Doyle put her header on frame, but Lohmann prevented her from scoring.
• In the 42^nd minute, Hamblin got past the Detroit Mercy defense, but her shot went right at the goalkeeper.
• With halftime approaching, Frey found space in the box and fired a shot, but her attempt was high of the goal.

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• Hamblin had the first shot of the second half for either team, but her attempt was high.
• Perkins took a shot from distance in the 56^th minute, but it went just over the crossbar.
• With a little more than 20 minutes left in the half, Detroit Mercy started to put some pressure on the NKU defense. A shot by Redick was blocked in the 68^th minute, and Lohmann made a save on an attempt by Doyle.
• Hamblin had a great chance to score in the 72^nd minute. She found herself with just the Detroit Mercy goalkeeper standing in front of her, but Hamblin pushed her shot to the left.
• In the 81^st minute, a ball was played into the box. Frey got a head on it and forced the Detroit Mercy goalkeeper to make a save.
• Doyle had an opportunity to score the equalizer in the 86^th minute, but her shot sailed high.

MATCH NOTES

• The Norse have won four matches in a row.
• NKU had 15 shots in the match, compared to 12 for the Titans.
• Zaken's goal was her second of the season, and Frey recorded her ninth score of the year.

 
UP NEXT
NKU travels to Milwaukee on Saturday night for a match against the Panthers. Both teams tied for first place in the Horizon League preseason poll. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.