HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team hits the road this weekend for matches against Duquesne and Robert Morris. The Norse play the Dukes on Friday evening at 7 p.m. and face the Colonials on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will feature a live stream with Friday's contest on ESPN+, and Sunday's match on the NEC Front Row.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. DUQUESNE
Friday, Aug. 31 – 7 p.m. – Pittsburgh, Pa. –
ESPN+ –
Live Stats
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. ROBERT MORRIS
Sunday, Sept. 2 – 1 p.m. – Moon Township, Pa. –
Live Video –
Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse earned a 3-2 victory over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason favorite Canisius on Monday. After trailing 1-0,
Calvin Murphy fired a shot from outside the box into the upper right corner of the net to tie the match at 1-1 in the 25
th minute.
Alex Willis gave the Norse a 2-1 lead in the 55
th minute.
Jim Barkei played a long ball out of the back, and Willis lofted his shot over a defender into the back of the net. Canisius scored the equalizer in the 67
th minute to tie the match at 2-2. However, Willis came through with his second goal of the match in the 82
nd minute to allow NKU to get the 3-2 win.
TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS
The Norse are 2-0 on the season with a win at home against Canisius and a victory on the road at Bowling Green. Willis leads the team with three goals and seven points. He ranks first in the Horizon League and is tied for sixth nationally in total points. Willis also is tied for first in the Horizon League and sixth in the NCAA in goals per match at 1.50.
Alex Greive leads the team with two assists, and he is ranked second in the conference and 13
th nationally in that category.
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 70-74-25. Assistant coach
Blair Stevenson and volunteer assistant coach
Roger Lane are also in their second years at NKU, while assistant coach
Sam Brooks begins 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.
Rikard Lindqvist and
Tom Suchecki are back in 2018, and each had four goals and two assists last season.
Wes Collins,
Justin Earle,
Ed Harvey,
Will Hunt, Stian Jørgensen,
Sam Mason,
Connor Probert,
Sam Slocum, and
Alex Willis will begin their first season at NKU.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Duquesne is 0-1 on the year. The Dukes fell at Marshall on Aug. 24 by a final score of 1-0. Marshall outshot Duquesne 14-3 and had a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks. Duquesne's Robbie McKelvey made four saves in the net. A year ago, Duquesne went 3-13-1 overall and had a 1-7 record in the Atlantic 10.
Robert Morris is 0-1-1 to start the season. The Colonials opened with a 3-0 defeat to Canisius on Aug. 24, and earned a 0-0 draw at St. Bonaventure on Aug. 26. Winter Fondi faced 17 shots and made six saves against the Bonnies. Fondi also made eight saves in the match against Canisius.
