HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team continues the nonconference portion of its regular season on Thursday, Aug. 23 against Xavier. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available. All students, faculty and staff from both schools will receive free admission to the match.
 
As part of VictorFest, pizza, tank tops, and buttons will be given to the first 200 NKU students. It is also Youth Jersey Night. All kids 8^th grade and under will receive free admission if they wear a soccer jersey, and both teams will participate in a post-game autograph session.
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. XAVIER
Thursday, Aug. 23– 7 p.m. ET – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+ –  Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse opened up the 2018 campaign with a 3-0 win against Indiana State. The NKU defense allowed just two shots, and Emily Lohmann earned the shutout in goal. The Norse took a 1-0 lead in the 16^th minute, when freshman Chloe Mills scored her first collegiate goal. Emily Soltes added to the lead by scoring a penalty kick in the 24^th minute. The final goal of the match came from Samantha Duwel in the 39^th minute. Payton Naylor played the ball into the box, and Duwel scored on a pass from Rachel Conaway.
 
The Norse fell to Murray State in overtime on Sunday by a final score of 2-1. Emily Lohmann faced 19 shots and made six saves on the afternoon. Trailing 1-0, the Norse tied the match in the 46^th minute on a penalty kick by Shawna Zaken. With the score tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, the two teams went into overtime, and Murray State prevailed with a goal in the 92^nd minute.  
 
OFFENSIVE DISTRIBUTION
The Norse have had four different players score goals this season. Emily Soltes, Shawna Zaken, Chloe Mills, and Samantha Duwel have all appeared on the scoresheet.
 
During the team's preseason match against Middle Tennessee State, Zaken scored three times, and Payton Naylor, Duwel and Soltes each recorded two assists. Soltes, Zaken, and Mills each scored in the 3-1 exhibition win over Miami (Ohio). Soltes added a goal in the team's final preseason match against Lindsey Wilson, and Ella Holland also scored to help the Norse to a 2-1 victory.
 
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 are in their first seasons at NKU.
 
HEAD COACH BOB SHEEHAN
Bob Sheehan enters his 22^nd season at the helm of the NKU women's soccer team. He sports a 307-101-28 (.736) 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 OPPONENT
Xavier opened up their season with a 2-1 win over Toledo on Friday, Aug. 17 and fell to Louisville in overtime by a score of 2-1 on Sunday, Aug. 19. Sydney Schembri, Brooke Sroka and Kenadie Carlson each have a goal on the season for the Musketeers.