HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team is set to host Eastern Illinois on Tuesday evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. EASTERN ILLINOIS
Tuesday, Oct. 2 – 7 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium
 
SERIES HISTORY
NKU leads 3-0-2. The teams tied 0-0 last season on Sept. 5, 2017.
 
LAST TIME OUT
NKU defeated Bethany College on Wednesday, Sept. 26 by a final score of 5-0. Alex Willis scored twice, and Alex Greive, Calvin Murphy and Connor Probert each added a goal. In total, 21 different players saw action in the match for the Norse.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS
The Norse are 7-3 on the season. NKU is averaging 2.30 goals per match and allowing an average of 1.50 goals per contest. The team ranks 11^th in the NCAA in scoring offense. Alex Willis is second in the nation in goals and points at 11 and 27, respectively. Alex Greive is first in the NCAA in total assists with 10.
 
ALEX WILLIS AND ALEX GREIVE EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Sophomore midfielder Alex Greive was named to the Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News National Team of the Week for his play from Sept. 10-16. He also earned Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors. Greive recorded an assist on all five goals that NKU scored. The Norse went 2-0 with wins over Evansville and previously unbeaten Green Bay. Greive had three assists in the 3-0 win over Evansville on Tuesday, Sept. 11. He followed that up with two assists in the 2-1 win over Green Bay on Saturday, Sept. 15. Green Bay had a 4-0-1 record entering the match. Greive's second assist against Green Bay occurred with 1:17 left in the match to help the Norse get the victory.
 
Freshman forward Alex Willis earned national recognition for his play from Aug. 27-Sept. 2. Willis was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, and he also earned United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week honors for NCAA Division I. In addition to his national awards, Willis was named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Willis helped the Norse to a 3-2 victory over preseason Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) favorite Canisius on Monday, Aug. 27. He scored two goals and recorded an assist in the match against the Golden Griffins. Willis followed that up with two goals against Duquesne on Friday, Aug. 31 in NKU's 2-1 win. Despite the Norse playing with nine men starting late in the second half, Willis scored the game-winner in the 96^th minute to lift NKU to victory. Willis followed that performance with a goal and two assists on Sunday, Sept. 2 to help the Norse defeat Robert Morris 3-2.
 
SECOND SEASON
Head coach Stu Riddle is in his second season leading the program, and it is his 10^th season as a head coach. He has an overall record of 75-77-25. Assistant coach Blair Stevenson and volunteer assistant coach Roger Lane are also in their second years at NKU, while assistant coach Sam Brooks is in his first season on the Norse coaching staff.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE SQUAD
The Norse return 14 players from last year's team and add nine newcomers to the fold for 2018. Rikard Lindqvist and Tom Suchecki are back in 2018, and each had four goals and two assists last season. Wes Collins, Justin Earle, Ed Harvey, Will Hunt, Stian Jørgensen, Sam Mason, Connor Probert, Sam Slocum, and Alex Willis will begin their first season at NKU.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Eastern Illinois is 2-5-3 on the year, and the team is 0-3-2 in its last five matches. However, in the Panthers' last outing, the team tied No. 4 Denver 0-0. Goalkeeper Johnathan Burke saved a penalty kick in the contest to prevent Denver's Andre Shinyashiki, the NCAA leader in goals and points, from scoring. Burke is 2-5-3 on the year. He has made 34 saves for a .756 save percentage and a 1.03 goals against average. The Panthers are averaging 0.70 goals per contest and allowing an average of 1.10 goals per match. Christian Sosnowski leads the team with two goals on the year.