The Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team are set for a showdown on Saturday with Horizon League foe Oakland with kickoff set for for 7 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium. The game will be carried live on ESPN3 with links to live stats available at NKUstats.com.
Oakland enters Saturday’s match following a 3-0 nonconference loss to Cincinnati on Sept. 30. The Golden Grizzlies sport four wins thus far in 2015 coming against WIU (8/28), Navy (9/4), Dayton (9/12) and conference rival Belmont (9/26). Oakland other losses have come against SIUE (8/30), #17 UMBC (9/6), conference foe Milwaukee (9/19) and Michigan (9/23).
Austin Ricci leads the Golden Grizzlies offensively with nine goals, while goalkeeper Eliott Tarney holds at 1.29 goals-against average while hauling in 15 saves in 557:33 minutes of work in goal.
The Norse (5-3-1, 2-0-1 Horizon League) and Golden Grizzlies (4-5-0, 1-1) have met six times with Oakland winning all six matches. The two teams last met during the 1992 season with the Golden Grizzlies defeating Northern Kentucky, 5-3.
Northern Kentucky currently sits in first place in the Horizon League standings with a 2-0-1 record, earning the Norse seven conference points. Among the League leaders, Diego Martinez ranks third in assists (3) while goalkeeper A.J. Fleak ranks second in saves (46), third in goals-against average (.840) and third in shutouts (4).
The Norse defense continues to hold strong following its fifth shutout of season on Sept. 30 against Belmont. Goalkeeper Toby Frohlich earned his first shutout of the season verses the Bruins, while fellow keeper A.J. Fleak has notched four shutouts this season coming against Memphis (9/31), St. Francis (9/4), IPFW (9/13) and Wright State (9/22).
In Northern Kentucky’s five wins and one draw this season the Norse scored the first goal in each match. Four different players have scored the game-winning goals in those matches with Calvin Murphy leading the way with two, followed by Yaw Addai, Diego Martinez and Kobie Qualah each with one.
Northern Kentucky defeated Belmont on Sept. 30, shutting out the League opponent 1-0 in the Norse’s home opener. Kobie Qualah netted the game-winning goal in the 18th minute with an assist by Johannes Jansen. Jansen fired a cross from just past the midfield line with Qualah heading it in for the score. NKU goalkeeper Toby Frohlich earned his first win and shutout of the season recording four saves on 10 shots faced.
Following its match with Oakland the Norse will continue League play hitting the road for a bout with Cleveland State on Oct. 7, with kick set for 7 p.m.
From NKU Athletics