HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky men's soccer team defeated Asbury on Wednesday evening by a final score of 7-0. Five different players scored in the match for NKU.
 
"I think a week ago if someone would've said that we would win our first two exhibitions 3-0 and 7-0, I would've snapped their hand off," said NKU head coach Stu Riddle. "It's very encouraging for everyone involved with the group. It's no secret that scoring goals was our big issue last season, and we are beginning to see that our new attacking pieces are exactly what we knew they would be – out and out goal scorers. I think we are all excited for Sunday night against UK, a game that should be a serious test for us in front of a great crowd."
 
 
NKU SCORING SUMMARY

• Stian Jørgensen gave the Norse a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. A corner kick played into the box by Connor Probert was headed home by Jørgensen.
• In the 32^nd minute, Alex Willis converted a penalty kick to put NKU ahead 2-0.
• Felix Komolong tapped in from close range after a nice long ball over the Asbury defense from Liam Evans to give the Norse a 3-0 lead in the 34^th minute.
• Rikard Lindqvist played a cross on the ground in the box in the 40^th minute, and Connor Probert beat the goalkeeper to make the score 4-0.
• Alex Greive scored with 17 seconds left in the first half on a through ball by Willis to help the Norse take 5-0 lead into halftime.
• Probert fired a shot in the 57^th minute, and his attempt hit off the post. However, the ball bounced off an Asbury defender and into the back of the net for an own goal.
• Willis scored his second goal of the match in the 71^st minute. Tom Suchecki played a ball into the box on a free kick from the left side, and Willis headed it home to give NKU the 7-0 lead.

 
BETWEEN THE POSTS

• Jim Barkei got the start in the net for the Norse. He played the first half and made one save.
• Freshman Ed Harvey made his first appearance in an NKU uniform in the second half. He played 45 minutes and wasn't challenged during the period.

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• Jørgensen gave the Norse the lead in the fourth minute.
• The Norse had more good chances to score early in the half. Probert hit the crossbar in the sixth minute, and team saves by the Asbury defense prevented Willis and Jørgensen from scoring in the seventh and ninth minutes, respectively.
• Barkei made his only save in the 11^th minute.
• Greive and Justin Earle had their shot attempts saved in the 15^th and 20^th minutes.
• The Norse scored four goals over a period of 13:06.
• Wills scored his first goal in the 32^nd period, Komolong followed with a goal of his own in the 34^th minute, and Probert and Greive got on the scoresheet in the 40^th and 45^th minutes, respectively.

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse scored again on an own goal by the Asbury defense. Probert fired a shot from the right side, the ball hit off of the left post, and it deflected off of an Asbury defender into the net.
• Willis added his second goal of the match in the 71^st minute.
• In the 74^th minute, the Asbury goalkeeper made two nice saves on shot attempts from Greive and Rizwaan Dharsey.
• Wes Collins had his header attempt saved in the 78^th minute.
• The final shot for NKU in the half came from Lindqvist with 54 seconds to play, but his attempt was high of the bar.

 
 
MATCH NOTES

• The Norse took 29 shots in the match with 10 coming on frame.
• NKU's defense held Asbury to three shots with one on goal.
• The Norse recorded 10 corner kicks in the match, compared to none for Asbury.

 
 
UP NEXT
 

• The Norse wrap up the preseason on Sunday, Aug. 17 against Kentucky. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from NKU Soccer Stadium, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.