HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky men's soccer returns to Horizon League action this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 25, as the Norse will welcome rival Wright State into NKU Soccer Stadium for this conference matchup. Kickoff is schedule for 7 p.m.

Match Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (3-4-0 Overall, 1-1-0 Horizon League)
Wright State University Raiders (2-4-0 Overall, 1-1-0 Horizon League)
Saturday, Sept. 25 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Highland Heights, Ky. | NKU Soccer Stadium (1,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+  with Matt Sexton (PxP)
Stats: Live Stats

Scoring Points
• NKU earned its first Horizon League victory, shutting out Purdue Fort Wayne, 1-0. 
• NKU has now recorded two shutouts during this season, with the first against Centre College. 
• NKU currently ranks 23rd in the nation in total goals (11), 28th in shots on goal per game (6.57), 28th in scoring offense (2.14), 29th in total assists (14), 29th in total points (44), 29th in points per game (6.29), and 33rd in assists per game (2.00). 
• NKU continues Horizon League action at home against rival Wright State, Saturday, Sept. 25. WSU holds a 12-4 all-time record versus the Norse. 
• Last season's matchups were canceled, but NKU defeated the Raiders 1-0 during the last meeting in 2019. 
• 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). 
• 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 27 saves this year, which ranks 29th. 
• F Jesse Randall and F Dylan Bufton, a 2020 all-Horizon League First Team honoree, both lead the Norse in goals scored this season with six and five respectively. Randall ranks 7th overall and Bufton sits at 13th in the country.
• Randall also ranks 10th in goals per game (0.86), with Bufton ranking 12th in goals per game (0.83). 
• Randall netted the game-winner against Purdue Fort Wayne off a free kick in the 52nd minute. 
• 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 three assists total. His 0.43 assists per game ranks 87th in the nation. 
• F Sam Robinson has a goal and assist to his credit so far this year. He was second on the team in scoring with eight points and second with two goals while also distributing a team-high four assists last year. 
• Newcomer M Craig Wellens scored the first goal of his Norse career against Centre and fol­lowed with a pair of assists in the win against VMI. 
• F Brodie Sallows scored the final Norse goal against VMI.
• 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.