HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky men's soccer heads to Oral Roberts on Friday, Sept. 3, and then hosts VMI on Tuesday, Sept. 7, in nonconference action. Tuesday's match against VMI will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
 
Match Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (1-1 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles (1-1 Overall, 0-0 Summit)
Friday, Sept. 3 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)/7:00 p.m. (CT)
Tulsa, Okla. | Case Soccer Complex (1,000)
Stats: Live Stats
 
Virginia Military Institute Keydets (0-2 Overall, 0-0 SoCon)
Tuesday, Sept. 7 – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Highland Heights, N.C. | NKU Soccer Stadium (1,000)
TV: ESPN+ with Matt Sexton (PxP)
Stats: Live Stats
 
Scoring Points
• NKU sits at 1-1 on the year after falling at UNC Asheville, 3-2, and defeating Centre, 3-0.
• NKU heads to Oral Roberts on Friday, Sept. 3, for the second-ever matchup between the two schools. ORU won 5-2 in 2019.
• NKU then hosts VMI on Tuesday in the first-ever meeting between the schools.
• NKU ranks 28th in the nation in scoring (2.50 gpg) and 32nd in assists per game (2.00).
• NKU is the reigning Horizon League regular-season champion, winning the league with a 7-1 record versus conference opposition and going 7-2 overall. The title marked the first DI-era championship for the Norse.
• The Norse were picked to finish fourth in this year's #HLMSOC Preseason Poll.
• NKU was also the Horizon League Championship runner-up.
• NKU sported one of the stingiest defenses in the country last year, ranking 13th in save percent (.837) and 23rd in goals against average (.748).
• The Norse received their first ever national ranking as a DI program 2020, checking in at No. 24 in Top Drawer Soccer's April 6 ranking. They moved up to No. 23 on April 13 in the TDS poll, but jumped into the United Soccer Coaches rankings at No. 22 that same week, setting the new DI highwater mark for ranking.
• GK Daniel Bermingham is the reigning #HLMSOC Goalkeeper of the Year.
• Bermingham ranked 16th in the country in save percentage (.837) and 33rd in goals against average (0.748) in 2020. He already has eight saves this year, which ranks 31st.
• F Jesse Randall had two excellent matches to start his career, scoring twice against UNCA and delivering an assist against Centre. His 1.00 goals per game average ranks 16th in the nation.
• Randall also ranks third in the country in shots per game (5.50).
• F Dylan Bufton, a 2020 all-Horizon League First Team honoree, scored and delivered an assist in his first game of the year versus Centre.
• Near the end of the 2020 campaign, Top Drawer Soccer named Bufton No. 91 on its National Top-100 list. D/M Roberto Burlew checked in at No. 97 on the publication's Freshman Top 100.
• M Ryan Godding, who as an all-league second team honoree in 2020, has been setting the table with two assists already. His 1.00 assists per game ranks 9th in the nation.
• F Sam Robinson was second on the team in scoring with eight points, ranking second on the team with two goals and distributing a team-high four assists last year. He has one goal so far this season.
• Newcomer M Craig Wellens scored the first goal of his Norse career against Centre.
 
#NorseUp