HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team got off to a good start in 2018, defeating Indiana State 3-0 in the first match of the season on Friday evening.
 
"Our back line of Taylor (Spaulding), Lily (Menssen), and Hannah (Fischer) were terrific again tonight," said NKU head coach Bob Sheehan. "Both our starters and our nonstarters played quality minutes in helping to earn a team victory. We were able to spread the ball around, attack with a purpose, and put some nice combinations together. It was great to see one of our freshmen, Chloe (Mills), score the game winning goal.  Emily (Soltes) did well to earn a penalty kick and finish it as well, and Sam (Duwel) struck the ball exceptionally well in scoring the third goal, with assists coming from Payton (Naylor) and Rachel (Conaway). Overall, it was a great start to the season."
 
NKU SCORING SUMMARY

• Freshman Chloe Mills scored her first collegiate goal in the 16^th minute. A corner kick played into the box was tapped by an Indiana State defender, and Mills finished from close range to put NKU ahead 1-0.
• Emily Soltes doubled the lead in the 24^th minute, after she converted a penalty kick.
• Samantha Duwel allowed the Norse to go ahead 3-0 in the 39^th minute. Payton Naylor played a ball into the box, the ball was played to Duwel by Rachel Conaway, and Duwel fired a shot into the upper right corner.

 
BETWEEN THE POSTS

• Emily Lohmann faced two shots on the night, but neither was on target.

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• Duwel took the first shot of the match in the 12^th minute, but her attempt was blocked.
• Mills gave the Norse a 1-0 lead in the 16^th minute.
• Soltes was fouled in the box and converted her penalty kick in the 24^th minute to allow NKU to go ahead 2-0.
• In the 39^th minute, Duwel's rocket from outside the box helped the Norse take a 3-0 lead.
• The Norse had four shots in the period, with three on frame.
• NKU's defense also held Indiana State to just one shot.

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• Shawna Zaken fired a shot in the 49^th minute, but her attempt was high of the bar.
• In the 59^th minute, Megan Patrick put her attempt on frame, but the shot was saved by the Indiana State goalkeeper.
• In the 86^th minute, the Sycamores' Sarah Clancy was issued a yellow card for a foul about 10 yards out on the left side of the box near the goal line.
• NKU's final scoring attempt came in the 89^th minute on a shot by Patrick, but the attempt was saved.
• The Norse took six shots in the half, with two on goal.

 
MATCH NOTES

• NKU had a 10-2 shot advantage.
• The Norse also took four corner kicks in the match, compared to none for the Sycamores.
• Overall, 19 players saw action for NKU.

 
UP NEXT

• The Norse travel to Murray State on Sunday, Aug. 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, and live stats will be available.