HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team (4-8-1, 2-4 Horizon League) will take on Oral Roberts (10-2, 3-0 Summit League) on Tuesday night in a nonconference matchup.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. ORAL ROBERTS
Tuesday, Oct. 22 – 7:00 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
This is NKU's first-ever matchup with Oral Roberts.
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse took a 3-2 loss to Green Bay at NKU Soccer Stadium on Saturday night. Connor Probert gave the Norse an early lead in the matchup during the 11th minute, sending a dagger of a free kick into the top-right corner of the goal. Alex Greive brought NKU within one score in the 65th minute with a shot into the bottom-right portion of the net. The Norse drew 20 fouls on the night, their second-highest total all year.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Oral Roberts is having a strong season thus far, earning a 10-2, 3-0 Summit League record. The Golden Eagles are No. 73 in the RPI rankings and have a one-two scoring punch of Reed Berry (nine goals) and Dante Brigida (eight goals). ORU is doing a fantastic job on both ends of the field, averaging over two goals a game and allowing just a goal a game. Miles Motakef is the primary keeper for the Golden Eagles, posting a 0.87 GAA and a .775 save percentage.
MAKING THE OTHER TEAMS GREIVE
Alex Greive is on a roll as the Norse battle through the second half of the 2019 slate. The junior currently leads the team with nine goals, eight of which came in a three-match span against arguably the best two teams in the Horizon League and Berea. His hat-trick effort against UIC garnered him Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors on October 7.
BRINGING DOWN LAST YEAR'S GOLIATHS
A season ago, Wright State won the Horizon League regular-season title and UIC won the Tournament. In back-to-back games, NKU defeated both teams by results of 2-1 and 3-2, respectively.
PRESEASON POLLING
Northern Kentucky was selected to finish sixth in this year's Horizon League preseason poll, receiving 46 points. Wright State, last year's regular season champion, topped the poll with 74 points and four first-place votes. UIC, which won the Horizon League Tournament a year ago, was the clear second choice, garnering 69 points and the remaining five first-place votes.
A YEAR AGO
NKU finished its 2018 campaign with a 10-7 overall and 3-5 record in the Horizon League. The Norse showed off a capable offense, scoring 2.18 goals a game thanks much in part to returning leading scorer Alex Willis, who finished the year with 16 goals. Alex Greive and Probert, who also return, put up five goals apiece. Barkei led NKU between the posts for much of the season, playing in 12 games, accumulating 45 saves and donning an 8-4 record.
TAKING A LOOK AT THE SQUAD
The Norse return 13 players from last year's team and add 11 newcomers to the fold for 2019. Brendan Auguste, Daniel Bermingham, Gianni Bouzoukis, Gino Geiser, Ryan Godding, Maan, Samuel Nwosu, Mahamud Osman, Josiah Pokopac, Sallows and Ali Zohar are all in their first season at NKU.
RIDDLE ME THIS
Head coach Stu Riddle is in his third season leading the program, and it is his 11th season as a head coach. He has an overall record of 82-89-26. Since his hiring, NKU has seen steady improvement, with last year's 10-7 campaign being the most wins in the program's Division I era.
