The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team extended its season-opening win streak to four games with a 1-0 victory over Charleston Southern on a soggy Sunday afternoon at CSU Soccer Field.
The victory marks NKU’s third-straight shutout and the Norse have not allowed a goal in the last 295 minutes of play. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Brooke Schocker was credited with her first solo shutout of the season after recording four saves.
The match’s only goal came just 50 seconds into the start of the second half. Sophomore forward Jessica Frey sent a header from the close left wing into the box, setting up junior Katelyn Newton for her first goal of the season and sixth of her career.
The goal came after both teams fought through a defensive battle in the opening half that featured three total shots on goal, two of them belonging to the Norse.
Northern Kentucky returned to the field after halftime with offensive momentum, nearly doubling their shot attempts in the second half.
However, NKU struggled to fire it past freshman goalkeeper Alyssa Dellacqua who notched eight saves throughout her full 90 minutes between the posts.
NKU (4-0-0) went on to out-shoot the Buccaneers (1-1-1), 21-11, and 9-4 on goal.
Up next, the Norse return home to host crosstown rival Xavier on Friday, Sept. 4 at NKU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will air on the Horizon League Network on ESPN3.
NORSE NOTES:
· The season-opening four-game win streak is Northern Kentucky’s best start to a Division I season, and is the best opening record since NKU won six-straight at the beginning of the 2007 campaign.
· The Norse have out-scored their opponents 14-1 throughout the first four contests and are averaging 3.50 goals per game.
· NKU took seven corner kicks for the third time this season, but struggled to convert the opportunities into shot attempts.
· Sophomore forward Macy Hamblin led in shots with six. She worked her way inside the box for three shots on goal. An opportunity to extend the NKU lead came in the 51st minute when Hamblin broke away on a cross from Frey but fired a shot high from a tight angle at the close right wing.
From NKU Athletics