HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team will open up the 2018 campaign on Friday, Aug. 17 against Indiana State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at NKU Soccer Stadium, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The Norse will then travel to Murray State on Sunday, Aug. 19 for the team's second match of the season. That match is slated to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
 
Launched in April of 2018, ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App. ESPN+, which will host the Horizon League women's soccer, men's soccer and volleyball championships, offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. INDIANA STATE
Friday, Aug. 17 – 7 p.m. ET – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+ – Live Stats      
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. MURRAY STATE
Sunday, Aug. 19 – 2 p.m. ET – Murray, Kentucky – Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse closed out the preseason with a 2-1 win over NAIA power Lindsey Wilson on Tuesday. The teams played three 25-minute periods. Emily Soltes gave NKU the lead with 50 seconds left in the first period. Samantha Duwel played a ball into the box, and Soltes slotted it in the back of the net. Ella Holland also got on the scoresheet in the match. In the final period, Megan Patrick played the ball on the left side to Ally Perkins. Perkins crossed the ball into the box, and Holland tapped it in to help the Norse get the win. NKU went 3-0 in the preseason with victories over Middle Tennessee State, Miami (Ohio) and Lindsey Wilson.
 
2017 SEASON
The Norse went 9-6-2 a year ago, including a 6-2-1 mark in Horizon League play. NKU finished second in the league's regular season standings and qualified for the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship. Macy Hamblin was named the Horizon League Player of the Year for the third year in a row, and Jessica Frey earned Horizon League First Team honors for the third-consecutive time. Taylor Spaulding received a spot on the Horizon League Second Team.
 
THIS YEAR'S SQUAD
NKU returns 17 players from last year's team. Spaulding led the team with 1,567 minutes played as a defender. Emily Lohmann is back at her goalkeeper position. She started 16 matches last year, making 69 saves for a .802 save percentage. Offensively, the Norse return Emily Soltes and Ally Perkins. Soltes scored two goals and had three assists in 2017, while Perkins added two goals and five assists.
 
The Norse also welcome six newcomers to the team. Lily Menssen, Ashleigh Cronin, Morgan Jewell, Ella Holland, Madelyn Koewler and Chloe Mills all begin their first seasons in an NKU uniform.
 
HEAD COACH BOB SHEEHAN
Bob Sheehan enters his 22^nd season at the helm of the NKU women's soccer team. He sports a 306-100-28 (.737) all-time record. Sheehan won his 300^th career match last season against Appalachian State on Aug. 29, 2017. His teams are 18-5-4 in Horizon League play and have a 4-1-1 record in the Horizon League Tournament.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Indiana State went 6-10-1 a season ago, with a 1-6 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Sycamores defeated NKU last season by a final score of 2-1 on Aug. 25, 2017. This season, Indiana State played one preseason match. The Sycamores played one preseason match, falling to Purdue, 2-1, on Aug. 8. Katie Wells returns to the team for her senior season, and she has been named to the All-MVC Preseason Team. Wells led the team with six goals and 14 points in 2017.

Murray State went 15-2-2 in 2017, including an 8-0-2 record in OVC play. The Racers qualified for the NCAA Tournament but bowed out to No. 20 Tennessee in the first round by a final score of 2-0. Murray State played one preseason match this year, falling to Samford, 2-1. Rebecaa Kurbin, the 2017 OVC  Freshman of the Year, scored in the match for the Racers. Murray State defeated NKU, 3-2, last season on Sept. 3, 2017. The Racers play Western Kentucky on Friday, Aug. 17 to open the regular season.