HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (5-7, 2-3 Horizon League) heads North to play Milwaukee, the four-time defending Horizon League champion, on Saturday.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY at MILWAUKEE
Saturday, Oct. 19 – 2:00 p.m. – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – ESPN3
SERIES HISTORY
Milwaukee leads the series 2-1-2. The Norse fell to the Panthers, 1-0, in their last matchup on October 20, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
NKU dropped a match with Cleveland State, 3-0, on Saturday at NKU Soccer Stadium, moving the Norse to 5-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play. The Vikings put together a strong defensive performance in the final third, keeping NKU's attempts on goal at a minimum. Mimi Stines was between the posts for nearly 85 minutes of the contest, allowing the trio of goals and making six saves.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Milwaukee sits atop the Horizon League standings undefeated and has given up just a single goal in conference play. The Panthers also had a successful nonconference performance, losing just one match, 1-0, to Eastern Kentucky--a team that the Norse defeated, 3-1, earlier this season. Several players in this matchup will have the ability net goals as eight players have three or more goals, with Haley Johnson and Gaby Schwartz leading the Panthers at five apiece. Elaina LaMacchia and Allie Strotman have shared most of the season's starts at keeper, compiling a 0.37 and a 0.62 GAA, respectively.
ZAKEN LEADS THE WAY
Senior Shawna Zaken leads NKU's offensive efforts this season. After scoring six goals last season for the Norse, she has surpassed that mark this season with eight. She has scored multiple goals in NKU's matchups against Eastern Kentucky and Murray State.
NONCONFERENCE BUZZ SAW
Despite going 3-4 in nonconference play, NKU has knocked off two teams that are defending conference champions and preseason favorites to win their leagues. Lipscomb won the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship after a 15-5-2 season and Murray State won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship with a 13-5-1 record. NKU's nonconference opponents combined are currently 51-43-8 on the year.
THIS YEAR'S SQUAD
The Norse return 16 players from last year's team, including leading scorer Shawna Zaken, and welcome nine newcomers to the squad. Taylor Abbott, Annie Greene, Kiley Keehan, Jamie Lehker, Lindsey Meyer, Mimi Stines, Megan Sullivan, Shelby Wall and Kayla Wypasek are in their first seasons at NKU.
PRESEASON POLLING
Northern Kentucky was picked to finish second in the Horizon League preseason poll, receiving 79 points. Four-time defending Horizon League champion Milwaukee was picked to win its fifth-consecutive championship this year, garnering 90 points and eight first-place votes.
HEAD COACH BOB SHEEHAN
Bob Sheehan is in his 23rd season at the helm of the NKU women's soccer team. He sports a 321-113-29 all-time record. His teams are 25-8-5 in Horizon League regular-season play.
