-
0
Northern Ky. NKU (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
1
Winner UNC Asheville AVL (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Northern Ky. NKU
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
1
UNC Asheville AVL
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Northern Ky. NKU 0 0 0
UNC Asheville AVL 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer opens season with road loss at UNC Asheville

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Northern Kentucky University Norse men's soccer opened the 2026 campaign on Thursday night, taking on UNC Asheville. The Norse fell by a score of 1-0 in the first match, as the Bulldogs' first-half goal was the difference. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 0, UNC Asheville – 1
LOCATION: Asheville, N.C. – Greenwood Field
RECORDS: NKU: 0-1-0 (0-0-0 HL), AVL: 1-0-0 (0-0-0 BS)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– UNC Asheville netted the eventual game-winner in the 35th minute, the lone goal of the match. 
– NKU lost the shot battle 17-12, and the shots-on-goal battle 12-2.
– Norse keeper Caleb Pearson made 11 saves in his Northern Kentucky debut, marking a new career-high for the NIU transfer. 
– Northern Kentucky lost the corner kick battle 12-9, but had eight corners in the second half. 
– The match saw ten total cards given, with three yellows to the Norse and a red to Norse defender Eli Been. 
– Pearson, midfielder Nate Roberts, and defender Steven Boaghe Braniste all played the full ninety for the Norse. 
– Carlos Mercé and Ibrahim Piracha led the Norse with three total shots and a shot on goal each. 
 
FOLLOW NKU NORSE MEN'S SOCCER
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I men's soccer team through @NKUNorseSOC on Twitter, @NKUNorseMSOC on Instagram, nkunorseMsoc on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse YouTube channel.
 
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