HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's soccer program dropped a heartbreaker to visiting Western Michigan as the Broncos found the back of the net in the 84th-minute to escape with a 1-0 non-conference victory inside the NKU Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 0, W. Michigan - 1
LOCATION: NKU Soccer Stadium – Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: NKU: 0-1-0 (0-0-0 HL), WMU: 1-0-0 (0-0-0 MAC)
 
INSIDE THE NORSE BOX SCORE
- Goalkeeper Mickayla Kowalski posted five saves in the contest.
- Lydia Self, Meghan Carl and Emma McSwigan all put a shot on target for NKU.
- NKU was outshot in both attempts (11 to 4) and shots on target (6 to 3).
- Western Michigan also won the corner kick battle with 10 attempts compared to Northern Kentucky's five.
- The Norse only committed six fouls in total (and just one in the second half), while the Broncos were charged with 12 infractions that included two yellow cards.
- Northern Kentucky had 17 student-athletes make an appearance on the pitch in the contest.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two sides battled to an even 0-0 first half as the Norse and Broncos got a feel for one another. Western Michigan attempted five shots while Northern Kentucky was able to get its lone attempt on target.
- The Broncos started to turn up the pressure in the second half as they sent six shots at the Norse net. The Norse defense held strong though until the 84th-minute. A Western Michigan shot was sent aside by Kowalski, but it led to the game-changing corner. WMU got the ball into the box and buried its chance in between heavy traffic to take a 1-0 lead with under six minutes to play.
- The Norse were able to get one last shot on goal in the final five minutes, but the Broncos turned it aside to escape with the 1-0 win.
 
FOR THE FOES
- Jen Blitchok broke the scoreless match with a clutch goal in the 84th-minute off a corner kick by Abby Werthman to propel the Broncos to the 1-0 victory.
- Lauren Boafo finished with a clean sheet in the contest.
 
NEXT UP
The Norse will hit the road for a short trip down to Louisville to take on Bellarmine in a non-conference clash on Sunday, August 20. Kick is set for 1 PM ET inside Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
 
 
FOLLOW NKU NORSE WOMEN'S SOCCER
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I women's soccer team through @NKUNorseWSOC on Twitter, @NKUNorseWSOC on Instagram, nkunorsewsoc on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.