HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team returns to NKU Soccer Stadium on Saturday for a Horizon League contest against Milwaukee. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and live stats will be available.
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. MILWAUKEE
Saturday, Sept. 22 – 7 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – Live Stats
 
SERIES HISTORY
Milwaukee leads the all-time series 4-0. In the last meeting, the Panthers defeated the Norse on Sept. 20, 2017, by a final score of 2-0.
 
LAST TIME OUT
NKU fell to Purdue Fort Wayne on Monday by a final score of 3-0. The Mastodons scored goals in the 48^th, 62^nd, and 82^nd minutes to get the victory.  
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS
The Norse are 6-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Horizon League. The team is averaging 2.13 goals per contest, while allowing 1.63 goals per match. Alex Willis leads the team with eight goals and 19 points, both of which rank third in the nation. Alex Greive has recorded nine assists, which is first in the NCAA. Connor Probert has three goals and two assists on the year, and Calvin Murphy has also scored three goals.
 
ALEX WILLIS AND ALEX GREIVE EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Sophomore midfielder Alex Greive was named to the Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News National Team of the Week for his play from Sept. 10-16. He also earned Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors. Greive recorded an assist on all five goals that NKU scored. The Norse went 2-0 with wins over Evansville and previously unbeaten Green Bay. Greive had three assists in the 3-0 win over Evansville on Tuesday, Sept. 11. He followed that up with two assists in the 2-1 win over Green Bay on Saturday, Sept. 15. Green Bay had a 4-0-1 record entering the match. Greive's second assist against Green Bay occurred with 1:17 left in the match to help the Norse get the victory. Greive now has nine assists on the season, and he entered this past weekend tied for first in the NCAA in assists. 
 
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.
 
UNITED SOCCER COACHES NORTH REGION POLL
The Norse were ranked ninth in the latest United Soccer Coaches North Region Poll, which was released on Sept. 18. It is the highest ranking for the program since the transition to Division I.
 
United Soccer Coaches North Region Poll (Sept. 18)

1. Indiana
2. Michigan State
3. Michigan
4. UIC
5. Maryland
6. SIU-Edwardsville
7. Wright State
8. Northwestern
9. Northern Kentucky
10. Akron

 
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 74-76-25. Assistant coach Blair Stevenson and volunteer assistant coach Roger Lane are also in their second years at NKU, while assistant coach Sam Brooks is in 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
The Panthers were tabbed fourth in the Horizon League preseason poll and received one first-place vote. Milwaukee enters the contest this weekend at 4-2-1 overall and 0-0-1 in Horizon League play. The Panthers' lone league match came against Cleveland State on Saturday, Sept. 15, and the two teams ended the match at 1-1. Milwaukee most recently played Marquette in the Milwaukee Cup, and the Panthers came away with a 2-1 victory. Milwaukee is averaging
1.43 goals per match and giving up an average of 0.71 goals per contest. Seven different players have scored for the Panthers this year, and Vuk Latinovich, Evan Conway and Josh Kaye each have five points on the season. Freddy Lorenzen has made all seven starts for Milwaukee at goalkeeper. He has recorded 34 saves for a 0.872 goals against average and a 0.69 goals against average.