The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team looks to remain undefeated in the Horizon League on Wednesday when it plays host to Wright State at 7 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium in a match set to air on ESPN3.
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse last saw action on Friday, Oct. 9 when they defeated defending League champion Valparaiso, 3-2, in double overtime. The Norse fell behind 1-0 in the second minute before Hanna Pateryn netted the game-tying goal followed by Jessica Frey who scored the go-ahead marker. NKU enjoyed a brief lead before Valpo sent the game into overtime where Kelsey Laumann would net the golden goal in the 101st minute to seal the victory.
ABOUT WRIGHT STATE: The Raiders (4-6-1, 1-2-1 Horizon) are coming off a 1-0 loss to Oakland at home and enter Wednesday’s match sporting a 3-4-1 record on the road. WSU has held opponents to one goal or less on all but two occasions this season. Primary goalkeeper Halle Pyle is second in the League in goals against average (0.80), save percentage (.865) and saves per game (4.50). Offensively, the Raiders are paced by Natalie Sedlock with six points on three goals including two goals against League opponents. Bryce Hueber also leads the team with six points (two goals, two assists).
NORSE NOTES:
Laumann, a senior forward, earned co-Offensive Player of the Week honors from the Horizon League for the week of Oct. 5. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native netted the golden goal that lifted NKU over Valparaiso, 3-2, in double overtime. Sophomore Macy Hamblin picked up the assist on the game-winner. The win marked the first double overtime victory of the Division I era and was Laumann’s first career goal scored on a header and second goal of the season.
The Norse will be taking on their seventh first-time opponent of the 2015 season. They have a record of 4-2 in those matches. Despite being separated by just 68 miles, the Norse and Raiders will be meeting for the first time in program history on Wednesday. WSU is one of 10 first time opponents included on NKU’s 2015 slate. The Norse defeated Horizon League teams UIC and Valparaiso in their first meeting and are set to take on League foes Cleveland State, Green Bay and Milwaukee for the first time later this season.
Pateryn, a senior midfielder, has netted the game-tying goal in back-to-back games. Pateryn has two goals this season, both pivotal in NKU’s victories over Detroit and Valpo as the Norse recovered from early deficits. Pateryn is one of five Norse who have registered a pair of goals between the first four Horizon League matches. She is joined by Frey, Hamblin, Morgan Shafer and Katelyn Newton each with two League goals as Northern Kentucky is outscoring League opponents 11-4.
With four League victories, NKU has set a new Division I program record for most conference wins in a single season. Northern Kentucky posted a pair of three-win conference seasons in 2012 and 2014 as a member of the Atlantic Sun. The squad is just one win away from tying its Division I record for overall wins in a season after going 9-8-3 last year. Including Wednesday’s match, the Norse have five matches left to play this season, all of which are League games.
As a team, NKU is second in the Horizon League standings while key strikers Frey and Hamblin each rank in the top five in multiple individual categories. NKU sits second behind Milwaukee who has a league-best 5-0 record and 15 total points. NKU trails with 12 points while Oakland sits in third at 3-1-1 with 10 points. Hamblin and Frey are tied with a team-best 14 points while Hamblin leads the league in shots (47), shots per game (4.70), points per game (1.40), assists (six) and assists per game (0.60). Meanwhile, Frey ranks in the top five in six different categories.
UP NEXT: Following Wednesday’s match, the Norse return to the pitch on Saturday, Oct. 17 when they host Cleveland State at NKU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be played at the back end of a doubleheader with the NKU men’s soccer team who face Valparaiso at 4 p.m. Both matches are set to air on ESPN3.
From NKU Athletics