INDIANAPOLIS – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team opened conference play with the first Horizon League game of 2019 with a 2-0 win over IUPUI at Carroll Stadum.
"I want to congratulate IUPUI on hosting a tremendous event," said head coach Bob Sheehan. "From my understanding there were a thousand school kids here and that just created a really special atmosphere, so congrats to them for promoting women's soccer and doing such a great job."
"IUPUI entered the game 5-2-1 and has an excellent team. I though Mimi (Stines) definitely kept us in the game. It could've been 2-0 with 15 minutes into the game and she made two big low-hand saves. I told her at halftime that she kept us in the game and allowed us time to get some momentum. The corner kick goal was spectacular; we spent a lot of time on restarts and it was great to score another restart goal. Shawna is a really special player and for her to get her sixth goal of the year is a tremendous accomplishment. I thought Kiley was great up front. Ashleigh Cronin did a great job battling in the midfield and winning balls. Finally, congrats to Megan Sullivan. She's extremely athletic and it was great for her to get two assists in her first Horizon League match."
"I thought we did really well," said Megan Sullivan. "The intensity wasn't there for the first part of the game but we really picked it up and became more aggressive. [For the corner assist] I was really nervous because the corner before it wasn't that great. Kailey was right where she was supposed to be and did really well.
"This is really exciting. We knew today would be a hard game, but we came and felt prepared as a team. We've been working hard in practice all week and I'm glad we got the win today."
NKU SCORING SUMMARY
- Megan Sullivan had a hand in both goals for the Norse.
- Kailey Ivins got the Norse on the board in the 33rd minute. Sullivan was awarded the assist with her corner kick.
- In the 71st minute, Sullivan found Shawna Zaken to cushion the Norse lead to 2-0.
BETWEEN THE POSTS
- Mimi Stines picked up her second-ever shutout, facing 16 shots and making six saves.
MATCH SUMMARY
- After a quick shot attempt by Zaken in the second minute that lead to a corner opportunity, IUPUI took full control of possession, unloading seven total shots, with four on goal in the first 16 minutes.
- The possession battle evened out and the game turned into a chess match as both sides struggled to create any attacks that lead to shots on goal.
- After an NKU substitution that brought in Megan Patrick for Kayla Wypasek, the Norse gained some steam and had the corner flag go their way a couple times after the 30-minute mark.
- In the 33rd minute, Sullivan fielded a corner deep into the box where Ivins was ready to head the ball downward between the posts, giving the Norse a 1-0 advantage.
- Much like the first half, the Jaguars were playing the better game to start the second, finding five shots in 17 minutes, although only one was on goal.
- Ivins pointed a shot attempt on goal in the 66th minute midway through the penalty area before it was saved by IUPUI's Sophia Lipka.
- Sullivan took full advantage of a throw-in opportunity, finding Shawna Zaken, who pelted a shot from the far-left corner into the goal, giving NKU a 2-0 lead.
- With the game practically in hand, the Norse subbed five players in the final 15 minutes.
NORSE NOTES
- Ivins continues to be a huge contributor for the Norse. She has the second-most points on the year with her two goals and five assists.
- Zaken has equaled her mark of six goals from a year ago not even halfway through the season.
- Sullivan's pair of assists bring her to four on the year.
- This is the third-straight year the Norse have opened Horizon League play with a win.
UP NEXT
- Horizon League play rolls on for NKU as the Norse face UIC on Saturday, September 28, at NKU Soccer Stadium. The match is set for 7:00 p.m. and will stream on ESPN3.
