HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (4-5, 1-1 HL) faces Wright State at NKU Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. WRIGHT STATE
Wednesday, Oct. 2 – 7:00 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
NKU leads the series 3-0-1. The two sides tied, 0-0, in their last matchup on September 26, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse were taken down by UIC at home on Saturday, 1-0. NKU had several scoring opportunities that didn't pan out, including a penalty kick taken by Kailey Ivins that was saved in the 71st minute. Ally Perkins had six shots in the contest with a few being in close range of the goal. Mimi Stines played the entire contest at goal, making four saves while facing 12 shots.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Wright State journeys to Highland Heights with a 6-2-2 overall and 1-1 Horizon League record. The Raiders' last two games were a 4-1 victory over Oakland and 2-0 setback to UIC. A trio of players have scored three or more goals for the Raiders this season: Destiny Johnson (4), Brittney Petrosky (4) and Josie Krupp (3). Maddie Jewell has spent every minute between the posts for Wright State, recording a 1.38 GAA and a 0.764 save percentage.
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 55 saves on the year and a 1.23 GAA. The Horizon League tabbed Stines as the league's defensive player of the week last 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 41-30-6 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 320-111-29 all-time record. His teams are 24-8-5 in Horizon League regular-season play.
