HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (4-4, 1-0 HL) battles UIC (5-3-1, 1-0 HL) on Saturday at NKU Soccer Stadium.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. UIC
Saturday, Sept. 28 – 7:00 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN3
SERIES HISTORY
NKU leads the series 4-0. The Norse defeated the Flames, 1-0, in their last matchup on Oct. 26, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse opened Horizon League play with a 2-0 shutout victory over IUPUI last Friday. Megan Sullivan contributed the assist in both of NKU's goals. Her first came off a corner kick in the 33rd minute to Kailey Ivins, who sent a downward header into the net, while the second assist came off a throw-in to Shawna Zaken, who scored on a shot from the left corner of the penalty area. Mimi Stines had her second-ever clean sheet in the victory and made five saves before NKU had its first goal.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
UIC will enter NKU Soccer Stadium with a 5-3-1 overall and 1-0 Horizon League record. The Flames' scoring attack is a varied one: Keri Birkenhead, Emily Kavanaugh, Emma Main and Jackie Santibanez each have a pair of goals. Lena Kurz has started seven games at goal for UIC, compiling a GAA of 0.44 and a .897 save percentage. Annika Laihanen has started at keeper in the Flames' most recent matchup, a 3-0 win over Valparaiso.
SCINTILLATING STINES
Mimi Stines has had a phenomenal start to her first season as a Norse. The Dayton transfer made her collegiate debut at goalkeeper in NKU's season opener at Lipscomb, where she took home a clean sheet in the 4-0 victory. She currently has 51 saves on the year through seven games, which is second in the Horizon League and is 20th-best in the country. The Horizon League tabbed Stines as the league's defensive player of the week on Monday as a result of her six-save, shutout performance at IUPUI.
ZAKEN LEADS THE WAY
Shawna Zaken picked up right where she left off her junior season. After leading the Norse a year ago with six goals, she has equaled that mark with nearly all of conference play remaining. She has scored multiple goals in NKU's matchups against Eastern Kentucky and Murray State.
NONCONFERENCE BUZZ SAW
Despite going 3-4 in nonconference play, NKU has knocked off two teams that are defending conference champions and preseason favorites to win their leagues. Lipscomb won the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship after a 15-5-2 season and Murray State won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship with a 13-5-1 record. NKU's nonconference opponents combined are currently 35-26-5 on the year.
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.
HEAD COACH BOB SHEEHAN
Bob Sheehan is in his 23rd season at the helm of the NKU women's soccer team. He sports a 320-110-29 all-time record. His teams are 24-7-5 in Horizon League regular-season play.
