HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team hosts Cleveland State on Saturday in a Horizon League match. It will be the final home match of the regular season for the team. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.      
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. CLEVELAND STATE
Saturday, Oct. 20 – 4 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+ – Live Stats
 
SERIES HISTORY
NKU leads 1-0-2. Last season, the teams tied 0-0 on Sept. 16, 2017.
 
SENIOR SATURDAY
After Saturday's match, the Norse will recognize seniors Jim Barkei, Bastian Beckers, Rizwaan Dharsey, Liam Evans, Calvin Murphy, Nick Perez, and Tom Suchecki for their outstanding accomplishments.
 
LAST TIME OUT
NKU fell at Marshall in double overtime Tuesday evening by a final score of 2-1. The Thundering Herd took a 1-0 lead in the 56^th minute. Alex Willis responded for the Norse with a goal in the 61^st minute. However, a goal in the 101^st minute gave Marshall the 2-1 victory.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS
The Norse are 9-5 on the season and 2-3 in the Horizon League. The nine wins are tied for a program record for most victories in a season in the Division I era.  NKU is averaging 2.43 goals per match and allowing an average of 1.57 goals per contest. The Norse are 7-0 when scoring at least three goals in a match. The team is sixth in the NCAA in scoring offense. Alex Willis ranks third in the nation in total points and goals with 37 and 15, respectively. Alex Greive still leads the NCAA in total assists with 11. Senior goalkeeper Jim Barkei has started nine contests and has a 7-2 record this season. He has made 31 saves for a 0.689 save percentage and a 1.63 goals against average.
 
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 77-79-25. 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. Wes Collins, Justin Earle, Ed Harvey, Will Hunt, Stian Jørgensen, Sam Mason, Connor Probert, Sam Slocum, and Alex Willis are in their first seasons at NKU.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Cleveland State is 4-6-2 overall and 1-2-2 in the Horizon League. The Vikings' lone win in league play came against UIC on Sept. 29. Cleveland State came away with a 3-1 victory over the Flames, who currently sit in second place in the Horizon League standings. The Vikings are averaging 1.25 goals per game, but allow an average of 1.83 goals per contest. Gabe Pewu leads the team with five goals and 11 points. Noah Pio has added a goal and six assists for eight points. Alex Gyerman has seen the most time at goalkeeper for the team. He has made eight starts in nine matches. Throughout the year, Gyerman has recorded 30 saves for a .732 save percentage and a 1.29 goals against average.