Alex Greive
Chloe Smith
2
UIC UIC (8-3-0, 2-1-0)
3
Winner Northern Ky. NKU (3-5-1, 2-2-0)
UIC UIC
(8-3-0, 2-1-0)
2
Final
3
Northern Ky. NKU
(3-5-1, 2-2-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UIC UIC 1 1 2
Northern Ky. NKU 0 3 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Robby Johnson, NKU Athletic Communications

Greive scores hat trick in NKUNorseMSOC’s 3-2 win over UIC

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky men's soccer team made it back-to-back wins on Saturday afternoon, defeating UIC, 3-2, at NKU Soccer Stadium thanks to an Alex Greive hat trick.

"I think we've shown in the last week with beating the defending regular season and tournament champions that we can compete with anyone in this league," said head coach Stu Riddle. "To come from behind and get a massive six points this week hass been incredible for us.

"[Greive's] a top player for us, we saw that last year when he was fourth in the country in assists and I've challenged him in the offseason to have more productivity in terms of goal output and to do it in a big match like that is incredible."

"To be fair, I'm just stoked we got the win," said Greive. "That was the priority and to score the three goals is obviously nice, but it was just a combination of the team's effort in the second half."

NKU SCORING SUMMARY

  • Grieve scored all three NKU goals in the 48th, 78th and 83rd minutes.

BETWEEN THE POSTS

  • Baj Maan made five saves, faced 17 shots and allowed both of UIC's goals.

MATCH SUMMARY

  • UIC controlled the flow of the game in the first half as NKU didn't find a shot opportunity until the 28th minute of the match.
  • The Flames were the first on the scoreboard after Sam Nwosu committed a foul in the penalty area. Bar Hazut took the kick and converted to make it 1-0.
  • After the slow start, NKU's offense settled in by the 34th minute as Connor Probert took a dangerous shot that was saved by UIC's keeper. The Norse also generated some chances in the ensuing minutes via corner kicks.
  • Down a goal at the half, Greive kicked off his scoring assault in the 48th minute. With a cross from Probert and a header pass from Sam Nwosu, Greive sent a shot just outside of the box and into the bottom-right corner of the net.
  • After an all-out barrage of shots sent toward Maan, NKU caught a break later in the half when UIC's Jacob Graiber committed a foul in the penalty area at the 78-minute mark. Greive took the kick, and although it was saved, he took possession of the rebound and drilled a shot into the middle of the net, giving the Norse a 2-1 advantage.
  • Not even a minute went by for the Flames to score the equalizer thanks to a shot by Bukola Abdulwahab.
  • Ryan Godding fed Greive from the right corner of the field in the 83rd minute, who was ready to nail in the game-winner inches from the box.
  • NKU played keep-away in the final minutes to take away the big win.

NORSE NOTES

  • The Greive hat trick is the first of NKU's Division I era. The last time an NKU player had a hat trick was Michael Holder's September 26, 2010, performance against Saint Joseph's.
  • UIC came into the matchup 8-2 on the year with both of its losses coming to Big Ten opponents. They are the defending Horizon League tournament champions.
  • Greive joins Alex Willis as the only other player to score multiple goals this season. He also becomes the leading points-scorer with the hat trick.
  • Probert's assist is his fourth of the year. He is just two shy of his mark from last season.
  • This is the first time NKU has scored three or more goals since a 6-2 effort against Detroit Mercy last season on October 13, 2018.

UP NEXT

  • The Norse face Division III opponent Berea at NKU Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.
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