A pair of second-half goals lifted the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Green Bay on Friday night as the Norse wrapped up the regular season and notched a third place finish in the Horizon League.
With the win and No. 3 seed, NKU will host a Horizon League Tournament quarterfinal match at home against the No. 6 seed on Monday, Nov. 2.
“Obviously we are thrilled to be able to host a first-round Horizon League Tournament game. This is the first time in our Division I history where we have earned the right to host a postseason tournament game and I’m very proud of our players for their effort,” head coach Bob Sheehan said.
The Norse recorded their 10th win of the season, a new Division I program record for Northern Kentucky. NKU improved to 10-5-1 overall and 6-2-1 in the League.
Sophomore forward Jessica Frey led NKU’s offensive effort with a goal and an assist while sophomore Macy Hamblin fired a game-high nine shots and added an assist.
Both teams got off to a slow start with NKU recording two shots on goal in the first half to Green Bay’s one. The teams entered the locker room at the half locked in a scoreless tie.
“In the first half, we scored on a corner kick which was called back so I felt good that after the restart, we would do the right things. I think Macy Hamblin had a lot of good chances and we are just going to keep working on our finishing, defending and midfield play and be ready to play on Monday night,” Sheehan added.
NKU returned to the field with aggressive energy, firing three shots within the first six minutes of the second period.
The offense broke through in the 54th minute when freshman Brianna Frondorf gained possession with plenty of green space to work with. Frondorf dished it to Frey who attempted a shot that was deflected by Green Bay (3-18, 1-8 Horizon) goalkeeper Kelly Kent. Frey rebounded the deflection and scored from seven yards out for a 1-0 NKU edge.
NKU extended its lead in the 63rd minute when senior Maria Silbersack scored on a double assist from Hamblin and Frey. Hamblin played it up field to Frey who fed the ball to the middle of the box for Silbersack who connected for a goal from the middle of the box.
Green Bay cut NKU’s lead five minutes later when Heidi Hartmann scored from the top of the box for her seventh goal of the year.
The Norse will host the No. 6 seed on Monday in a Horizon League Tournament quarterfinal match at NKU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN3. More information on the Horizon League Tournament can be found at HorizonLeage.org.
NORSE NOTES:
— Frey, a sophomore forward, has posted three or more points on three occasions this season after posting four points against IPFW and three against Wright State.
— The Norse are headed to their second Division I postseason conference tournament after advancing to the semifinal round of last year’s Atlantic Sun Tournament where NKU fell to Florida Gulf Coast, 3-1.
— With an assist tonight, Hamblin has tied her own NKU Division I benchmark set in 2014 for single season points with 20.
Norse drop three-setter to Milwaukee
Despite a strong showing by Northern Kentucky University’s blockers, the Norse were unable to battle past the Milwaukee Panthers in a Friday night Horizon League showdown, falling, 3-2 (24-26, 25-10, 22-25, 25-16, 15-10).
NKU (11-13, 6-6 Horizon) was led by Libs with 22 kills on a .296 hitting percentage. Keyaira Lankheit followed with 11 kills and seven blocks and Kelly Turner with 7 kills. Mel Stewart held strong on defense with 21 digs on the night.
Milwaukee (7-18, 5-7 Horizon League) was led out of the middle, as Maddie Williams led the way with 17 kills and four blocks, while Jess Kalous added 12 kills and seven blocks. Maggie Dunbar finished the night with a double-double (14 kills, 14 digs) as the Panthers hit a combined .252 and accumulated 80 digs as a team.
The Norse fell behind early, but were able to battle back with a 7-1 run to take a 10-7 lead. The Panthers continued to press and tied things back up at 12-12. The teams exchanged points until a UWM service error followed by an NKU block gave the Norse a 24-22 lead. Kills by Williams and Dunbar tied the set back up at 24-24, but a kill from Kelly Turner and a Panther attack error gave NKU the opener, 26-24.
An 8-1 run by the Panthers made the difference in Set 2, as UWM hit .462 in the stanza and picked up three service aces, rolling to a 25-10 victory to level the match.
NKU turned it around in Set 3, taking the early 6-3 lead before the Norse strung together a 5-1 run, keyed by a pair of Keely Creamer blocks, to extend the lead to 11-6. The Panthers answered, turning around a 7-3 run to take an 18-17 lead. The teams battled to a 22-22 tie before Libs took matters in her own hands picking up three kills and a block in the final four points to give NKU a 25-22 set victory.
The teams traded points in Set 4 until a 4-0 run for the Panthers gave them a 13-9 lead they would not relinquish. A steady back-and-forth ensued until a late 9-1 run was too much for the Norse to handle, leading to a 25-16 win for UWM and a decisive fifth set.
The Panthers took the momentum from the previous set to string together a 6-0 run and grab an 8-3 lead. The Norse brought it as close as three points, but Dunbar put down the final two points to take the set and match, 15-10.
NKU returns to the court on Saturday afternoon for a Senior Day showdown against Green Bay. First serve is set for 3 p.m. with the match broadcast live on ESPN3. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the Norse will honor their seniors, Mel Stewart and Jayden Julian, in a special pre-match ceremony.
From NKU Athletics