HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky men's soccer continues Horizon League action this week with a pair of road matches starting with UIC on Wednesday, Sept. 29. The Norse will conclude the trip matchup against Green Bay, Saturday, Oct. 2 as well.
 
Match Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (3-5-0 Overall, 1-2-0 Horizon League)
University of Illinois-Chicago Flames (4-2-2 Overall, 2-1-0 Horizon League)
Wednesday, Sept. 29 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Chicago, Ill. | Flames Field (1,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
 
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix (1-5-2 Overall, 0-2-0 Horizon League)
Saturday, Oct. 2 – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Green Bay, Wis. | Aldo Santaga Stadium (500) 
Broadcast: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
 
Scoring Points
• NKU fell twice last week, dropping a nonconference match to No. 25 Louisville Tuesday, Sept. 21. The Norse then lost a heartbreaker at home against rival Wright State, which the Raiders won 2-1 in 2OT with just seconds remaining.
• NKU currently ranks 20th in shots on goal per game (6.88), 33rd in the nation in total goals (16), 34th in total assists (15), 37th in scoring offense (2.00), 37th in total points (46), 41st in points per game (5.75), and 43rd in assists per game (1.88).
• The Norse return to action this week with a pair of road Horizon League matches. First NKU will travel to Chicago to face UIC Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. Northern Kentucky then heads to Green Bay to take on the Phoenix Saturday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.
• The last time NKU and UIC met was March 30, 2021 when the Norse defeated the then No. 24 ranked Flames 1-0 in Chicago.
• The last time the Norse faced Green Bay, Northern Kentucky was victorious on March 12, 2021 by a score of 3-2 in a 2OT contest. 
• All-time UIC leads the series over NKU at 3-2-1, and in the series against Green Bay, the Phoenix lead the Norse 4-3 overall. 
• NKU's eight goals against VMI are the most scored this year by a DI team against another DI opponent. The team's 25 total points are also the highest single-match totals in the nation and nine assists are the second most.
• 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 33 saves this year, which ranks 19th.
• 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 14th in the country.
• Randall also ranks ninth in the nation in shots on goal per game (2.14), and ranks 10th in goals per game (0.86). 
• Bufton currently ranks 12th in the nation in goals per game (0.83) as well.
• 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.
• Burlew added a goal and an assist against the Keydets, marking the first goal and assist of his Norse career. 
• M Ryan Godding, who as an all-league second team honoree in 2020, has been setting the table with four assists this season. His 0.50 assists per game ranks 50th 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. He has one goal and one assist so far this season.
• 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.