HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer team looks to continue defending their Horizon League regular-season title this week, first by traveling to Indianapolis to take on IUPUI Thursday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. The Norse will then head back home as they host Cleveland State inside NKU Soccer Stadium Sunday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.
 
Match Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (4-3-2 Overall, 2-0-0 Horizon League)
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (2-6-1 Overall, 1-1-0 Horizon League)
Thursday, Sept. 23 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Indianapolis, Ind. | Michael A. Carroll Stadium (10,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
 
Cleveland State University Vikings (3-5-1 Overall, 2-0-0 Horizon League)
Sunday, Sept. 26 – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Highland Heights, Ky. | NKU Soccer Field (1,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
 
Scoring Points

• NKU is 4-3-2 on the season, and 3-0-2 in its last five matches, after downing both Detroit Mercy and UIC to continue Horizon League play.
• NKU's nonconference schedule was brutally tough. All but two of its nonconference opponents have a .500 record or better and are a combined 28-17-12 (.622) through Sept. 21.
• NKU is unbeaten in its last five matches with a 3-0-2 record. Opponents have scored just twice in those games as the Norse have posted three shutouts.
• NKU currently sits in a tie for first in the Horizon League, as Milwaukee and Cleveland State are both 2-0 in conference action. IUPUI enters the week at fifth overall in the conference also. 
• NKU was picked to finish second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
• The Norse won the 2020 Horizon League regular-season at 7-0-1 and went 8-1-2 overall.
• NKU reached the #HLWSOC Tournament championship match, tying Milwaukee 0-0 through 110 minutes of action before succumbing in penalty kicks. 
• D Lydia Self was named the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 20 after leading the Norse once again to a pair of victories over both Detroit Mercy and UIC.
• Self posted two goals throughout the week, each of which were game-winners for the Norse. Her first against Detroit Mercy came about in the 41st minute which lead to the NKU win. Her second goal would occur during the 65th minute to break the 1-1 tie between NKU and UIC.• D Lydia Self was named the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Week last week as well (Sept. 13) with the freshman now earning back-to-back conference accolades.
• D Madelyn Koewler played a huge part in both of the victories last week as she recorded an assist on all three of NKU's goals in each match last week. 
• GK Mimi Stines is the reigning #HLWSOC Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Year after finishing third nationally in goals against (.264) and save percent (.929), plus 14th in shutouts (7).
• Stines earned recognition as a United Soccer Coaches All-Region honoree and, the standout on both the field and in the classroom, also collected United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America and Horizon League All-Academic accolades.
• NKU also returns its entire back line that was one of the nation's best defenses, D Chloe Mills, D Morgan Jewell, D Lily Menssen and D Taylor Abbott, plus regains the services of D Megan Sullivan.
• The Norse have scored nine goals so far this year, with six Norse combining for the nine goals. 
• F Sofia Wilmes, M Kayla Wypasek, and D Lydia Self each lead NKU with two goals scored a piece. Wypasek and Self each totaling one goal scored in the last match at UIC.
• Mills delivered the overtime match winner against EKU, heading home a corner kick played by Jewell.
• F/M Lindsey Meyer provided a goal against Evansville and delivered the assist on Wilmes' game-winner at Ohio. She ranked 10th in the country last year in assists per game (0.73). She also scored once and finished second on the team in points with 10.