HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (1-1-0, 0-0-0 HL) will match up with Butler (2-0-0, 0-0-0 Big East) on Thursday night at NKU Soccer Stadium. The Norse are coming off a 1-0 loss to Ohio where they recorded just one shot on goal.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. BUTLER
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 7:00 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
Butler leads the series 3-0-0. The Norse lost to the Bulldogs, 2-0, in their last matchup on September 9, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
NKU suffered its first loss of the season on Sunday night to Ohio, 1-0.
Ally Perkins was the only member of the Norse that placed a shot on goal and
Shawna Zaken was the only Norse to record multiple shots (3). The Bobcats heavily outshot NKU, 15-7, with seven of their shots being on goal. Ohio's Alivia Milesky scored the lone of the night in the 62nd minute.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Butler arrives at NKU Soccer Stadium with a perfect 2-0-0 start to the 2019 season after a 3-0 win at Morehead State and a 4-1 victory over IUPUI. Sophomores Katie Soderstrom and Anja Savich each have a pair of goals to start the season. Soderstrom also has a pair of assists despite only appearing in the Bulldogs' matchup with IUPUI. Stephanie Rodriguez has spent all 180 minutes of the season between the posts, facing nine shots and recording three saves on the year thus far.
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.
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.
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.
