HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team (2-2-0, 0-0-0, HL) starts a four-game road trip on Thursday when it takes on the Kentucky Wildcats (2-0-2, 0-0-0 SEC).
NORTHERN KENTUCKY at KENTUCKY
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 7:35 p.m. – Lexington, Kentucky
SERIES HISTORY
This is NKU's first-ever meeting with Kentucky.
LAST TIME OUT
NKU won its second game of the season, besting Murray State, 3-1, on Sunday after Shawna Zaken pelted in two goals from assists by Kiley Keehan. Norse freshman Kayla Wypasek, who has entered the starting lineup the last two games, scored her first career goal in the game.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Following a 5-14 campaign last year, Kentucky remains undefeated on the young season at 2-0-2. The Wildcats have scored seven total goals in the last two games against George Mason and Youngstown State. Jordyn Rhodes leads the team with four goals and has a shot on goal percentage of .778. Goalkeeper Steph Stull has played every minute this season for UK, compiling a 1.13 GAA.
PRESEASON FAVORITE? NO PROBLEM.
Through four games, NKU has already 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.
ZAKEN'S QUICK START
Shawna Zaken picked up right where she left her junior season off. After leading the Norse a year ago with six goals, she already has half that total, netting one goal at Lipscomb and two against Murray State.
GOALS FOR EVERYBODY
Five different Norse have scored a goal this season: Kailey Ivins, Chloe Mills, Megan Patrick, Ally Perkins and Shawna Zaken.
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 318-108-29 all-time record. His teams are 24-7-5 in Horizon League regular-season play.
