The Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team (6-4-2, 3-1-2 Horizon League) fell to UIC (6-3-2, 3-0-1 Horizon League) 1-0 in overtime at home on Saturday, battling through their fifth overtime match of the season.
“All credit goes to UIC, they wanted it more than we did,” NKU head coach John Basalyga said. “They played hard did what they had to do to win. We need to change out mentality going forward as we head into the next stretch of Horizon League matches.”
In the opening frame, neither team was able to get the upper hand offensively. Northern Kentucky’s Diego Martinez and Calvin Murphy each placed a shot on frame but UIC goalkeeper Andrew Putna was there for the save on each. The Norse defense was just as stingy, allowing only the Flames only four shots with one on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Moving to the second half, Campbell Morris accounted for the Norse’s only shot on goal. The NKU defense also continued to hold strong fending off six shots and seven corner kicks with A.J. Fleak hauling in three saves.
UIC got the golden goal in OT when Jose Fuentes found the net in the 96th minutes with an assists by Manny Chavez. Chavez intercepted a Norse clearance passing to Fuentes at the top of the box who finished to the top-left corner for the game winner.
NKU finished the match taking four shot with three on goal and two corner kicks. Norse goalkeeper Fleak (5-4-1) notched four saves on 11 shots faced. UIC ended the day taking 11 shots with five on goal and nine corner kicks. Flames’ keeper Putna finished with three saves on four shots faced.
Northern Kentucky continues Horizon League play on Saturday, Oct. 17 when they host Valparaiso at the NKU Soccer Stadium with kickoff slated for 4 p.m.
Norse women need OT to knock off Valpo
In its first overtime match since Sept. 2014, the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team defeated Valparaiso, 3-2, on a golden goal from senior Kelsey Laumann in the 101st minute to remain undefeated in Horizon League play at 4-0.
NKU’s overall record improves to 8-3 with the victory. Valparaiso, the defending Horizon League champion, slips to 4-5-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the League.
With the match locked in a 2-all tie in double overtime, sophomore forward Macy Hamblin found Laumann inside the box. Hamblin fired an assist from the left sideline, setting Laumann up for a header from four yards out that sailed over the head of Valpo goalkeeper Sydney Galvez-Daley.
NKU recovered from a slow start to take the victory. Before the Norse defense had a chance to settle in, Valparaiso’s April Cronin capitalized on the first shot attempt of the game when she scored her sixth goal of the season for a 1-0 Crusader lead at the 1:08 mark.
The goal went unanswered throughout the remainder of the first half. The teams returned to the field in the second period and waged a back-and-forth battle.
The Norse stunned Valpo with a pair of goals within a minute and a half span beginning with a goal from Hanna Pateryn in the 59th minute. Pateryn netted the equalizer after intercepting a failed Crusader clearance attempt at the top of the box.
Sophomore forward Jessica Frey then scored her fifth goal of the season in the 61st minute for a brief 2-1 Norse lead that lasted until Valpo’s Morgan Manzke knotted the game at 2-all in the 65th minute to send the game into overtime.
Overall, goalkeeper Brooke Schocker posted five total saves in 100:45 minutes of action. Valparaiso out-shot the Norse 15-
12, while NKU edged the Crusaders in shots on goal, 9-7.
Northern Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 17 when they host Horizon League rival Wright State at NKU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN3.
Laumann named Horizon’s Player of the Week
Senior forward Kelsey Laumann has been named the Horizon League Women’s Soccer Offensive Co-Player of the Week after scoring a golden goal in double overtime on Friday to hand Northern Kentucky a 3-2 victory over defending League champion Valparaiso.
The win handed the Norse a 4-0 record in Horizon League play and was the program’s first double overtime victory of the Division I era.
The exercise science major has the third-most points on the team with seven after scoring a pair of goals and dishing out three assists.
Laumann shares the weekly honor with Callie O’Donnell of Milwaukee.
Laumann’s player of the week honor is the second for an NKU player this season. Jessica Frey was recognized on August 24 after scoring three goals between the Norse’s pair of season-opening games.
From NKU Athletics