HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team opens Horizon League play on Saturday against Wright State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Both teams are unbeaten entering the contest, as NKU has a 4-0 record, and Wright State comes to town with a 3-0-1 record.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. WRIGHT STATE
Saturday, Sept. 8 – 7 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium –
ESPN3 –
Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY
Wright State leads the all-time series 11-3. The teams last met on Oct. 21, 2017, and the Raiders pulled out a 1-0 victory.
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse defeated Robert Morris 3-2 on Sunday, Sept. 2. The Colonials took a 1-0 lead in the 24
th minute, but
Alex Willis responded with a goal in the 33
rd minute to tie the match at 1-1.
Calvin Murphy gave the Norse a 2-1 lead in the 50
th minute.
Alex Greive added to the lead in the 56
th minute to put NKU ahead 3-1. The Colonials pulled one back in the 88
th minute, but NKU held on for the 3-2 victory.
ALEX WILLIS EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Freshman forward
Alex Willis earned national recognition this past week 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.
TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS
NKU is 4-0 on the season with one win at home and three road victories. The Norse are averaging 2.75 goals per contest, but allow 1.75 goals per match. The Norse are tied for sixth in the nation with 11 goals and are 11
th in scoring offense. Willis is second in the country in goals scored (6) and tied for first in the NCAA with 15 points.
Alex Greive has recorded two goals and three assists on the year, and
Calvin Murphy has also scored two goals.
Connor Probert has a goal and two assists on the season, and goalkeeper
Jim Barkei also has two assists.
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 72-74-25. 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 OPPONENT
Wright State is 3-0-1 on the year. The Raiders have wins over UNC Asheville, Purdue Fort Wayne and Cincinnati. Wright State tied Bowling Green 0-0 on Aug. 31. NKU played UNC Asheville in an exhibition contest earlier this year, winning the match 3-0. The Norse opened the season with a 3-2 victory over Bowling Green on Aug. 25.
Wright State is averaging 2.25 goals per match and allowing 1.50 goals per contest. Alec Phillipe and Stefan Rokvic each have three goals this season, and Jackson Dietrich has recorded three assists. Goalkeeper Joel Sundell has started all four matches for the Raiders. He has made 12 saves on the year for a 0.667 save percentage. Sundell also has a 1.42 goals against average.
