HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team hosts Evansville for a nonconference match on Tuesday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., at NKU Soccer Stadium, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+. NKU enters the match with a 4-1 record, while Evansville comes to town with a 1-2-2 record.
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. EVANSVILLE
Tuesday, Sept. 11 – 7 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+ – Live Stats
 
SERIES HISTORY
Evansville leads the all-time series 3-0. The teams last met on Oct. 31, 2017, and the Purple Aces pulled out a 2-1 victory.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse encountered their first loss of the season to Wright State by a score of 2-1 in double overtime on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Norse took a 1-0 lead in the 11^th minute with a goal from Connor Probert, but the Raiders responded with a penalty kick goal in the 87^th minute to send the game into overtime. The Raiders won the game 2-1, when they sent a ball into the back of the net in the 106^th minute, ending the second overtime period.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS
NKU is 4-1 on the season with one win at home and three road victories. The Norse are averaging 2.40 goals per contest, but allow 1.80 goals per match. Alex Willis leads the team with six goals and 15 points. He is tied for third in the nation in goals and points. Alex Greive has recorded two goals and four assists on the year. His four assists are tied for seventh in the NCAA. Calvin Murphy has scored two goals on the year, Connor Probert has recorded two goals and two assists, and goalkeeper Jim Barkei also has two assists.
 
ALEX WILLIS EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Freshman forward Alex Willis earned national recognition for his play from Aug. 27-Sept. 2. Willis was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, and he also earned United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week honors for NCAA Division I. In addition to his national awards, Willis was named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Willis helped the Norse to a 3-2 victory over preseason Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) favorite Canisius on Monday, Aug. 27. He scored two goals and recorded an assist in the match against the Golden Griffins. Willis followed that up with two goals against Duquesne on Friday, Aug. 31 in NKU's 2-1 win. Despite the Norse playing with nine men starting late in the second half, Willis scored the game-winner in the 96^th minute to lift NKU to victory. Willis followed that performance with a goal and two assists on Sunday, Sept. 2 to help the Norse defeat Robert Morris 3-2.
 
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 72-75-25. 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 OPPONENT
Evansville is 1-2-2 on the year. The Purple Aces' only win of the season was against No. 24 Grand Canyon. Evansville opened the season with back-to-back losses to Utah Valley and UNLV before notching two ties against Eastern Illinois and fellow Horizon League member IUPUI.

Evansville is averaging 1.00 goals per match and allowing 2.20 goals per match. Jesse Stafford-Lacey and Ben Weber both lead the Purple Aces with one goal and one assist.  Goalkeeper Frederik Reimer has started all five matches.  He has made 18 saves on the year for a .621 save percentage. Reimer also has a 1.99 goals against average.