HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team is set to open its regular season on Thursday at Lipscomb in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on YouTube.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY at LIPSCOMB
Thursday, Aug. 22 – 7:00 p.m. – Lipscomb Soccer Complex – YouTube
SERIES HISTORY
NKU leads the series 3-0-1. The Norse defeated Lipscomb, 2-0, in their last matchup in September 6, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
NKU ended their preseason schedule with a 1-1 tie against Morehead State on August 17. The lone Norse goal came from Kailey Ivins on a Megan Patick assist in the 60th minute. NKU outshot the Eagles 15-3 in the contest and also won the shots on goal margin, 7-2.
A YEAR AGO
The Norse finished their 2018 campaign with a 10-6-1 overall and 6-2-1 record in the Horizon League. NKU sported a 7-1 record when leading at the half and averaged 1.35 goals per match. Shawna Zaken led the Norse with six goals and five assists, followed by the now-graduated Samantha Duwel's five goals and five assists. Emily Lohmann, who has since graduated, started every match at goalkeeper for the Norse, making 60 saves for an 0.811 save percentage and a 0.91 goals against average.
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
The Horizon League released its 2019 women's soccer preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon. Northern Kentucky was picked to finish second in the 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 316-106-29 (.733) all-time record. His teams are 24-7-5 in Horizon League regular-season play.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Lipscomb enters 2019 coming off the heels off a 15-5-2 (7-1-0, ASUN) season that culminated with a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Mississippi State. Olivia Doak, the Bisons' leading scorer from a year ago, returns for her senior season and hopes to improve on her nine-goal and nine-assist year. NKU defeated the Bisons a year ago, 2-0.
