HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team (1-5-1, 0-2 HL) takes on Wright State (5-2, 1-0 HL) on Saturday at Alumni Field in Dayton, Ohio
NORTHERN KENTUCKY at WRIGHT STATE
Saturday, Sept. 28 – 7:00 p.m. – Alumni Field – ESPN3
SERIES HISTORY
Wright State leads the series 12-3. The Norse fell to the Raiders 1-0, in their last matchup on Sept. 8, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse were taken down by Dayton, 3-0, on Tuesday night at Baujan Field. The Flyers found their first score in the eighth minute and cushioned the lead in the 68th and 71st minutes, with the latter being off a penalty kick after a Gianni Bouzoukis foul. Brodie Sallows had his first start of the season and had one of the two Norse shots that were on goal. Danny Bermingham had his first Division I start between the posts.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
After finishing 13-3-3 last season, Wright State continues to play well this year, entering the matchup with a 5-2 overall and 1-0 Horizon League record. Four different Raiders have scored multiple goals this season: Stefan Rokvic (5), Deri Corfe (4), Alec Phillipe (3) and Jackson Dietrich (2). Rokvic, Phillipe and Dietrich also have shots on goal percentages of .400 or higher. Senior keeper Joel Sundell has played every minute for the Raiders as he sports a 1.43 goals against average and a .792 save percentage.
PROBERT'S INCREASING ROLE
In his last year as a Norse, senior Connor Probert is making a significant contribution to the season box score. The New Zealand native owns a goal and three assists to his name, with the latter being half of what he recorded a year ago. After placing 13 shots on goal last season, he's currently at 10.
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 79-86-26. 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.
