Following a scoreless draw against Oakland in the Horizon League Championship semifinals, the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team fell to the Golden Grizzlies in penalty kicks 4-1 to see their tournament run come to a close Thursday night at Engelmann Stadium.
In a best-of-five penalty kick scenario, Oakland made all four of their attempts in a row, with NKU senior Kelsey Laumann making Northern Kentucky’s lone penalty kick.
Oakland’s Sydnye Gagner, Cecille Dokka and Ali Almonte netted goals before Laumann stepped in to get the Norse on the board. Oakland’s Jamie Horne made the fourth and final penalty kick to advance Oakland in the tournament.
Goalkeeper Brooke Schocker issued a strong performance in the draw, facing 16 total shots and making six saves, the most against a Horizon League opponent. Five of Schocker’s six saves came in the second period to hold Oakland scoreless.
The teams starved each other of a shot on goal in the opening half as NKU saw three shots with two credited to sophomore Macy Hamblin.
Despite not firing a shot on goal, the Norse managed good looks beginning in the 25 minute when Hamblin sent a shot inside that spun just outside the right post.
The teams returned to the field in the second period as the defensive battle resumed. At the end of regulation, Oakland held a 14-8 shot advantage over NKU but the Norse offense went on to dominate possession between the pair of overtime periods.
Five of NKU’s 13 total shots came in overtime including four in the final OT as NKU strung together late offensive attacks.
The Norse end the 2015 campaign with an 11-5-2 overall record, the best record NKU has recorded in its four seasons at the Division I level.
NORSE NOTES:
— NKU played its fourth overtime match of the season, with all coming against Horizon League opponents.
— Prior to the match, the Norse had taken just one penalty kick all season, coming from Hamblin for a goal against Cleveland State.
— Schocker ends the season ranked ninth all-time in single season saves with 58 while her career saves total increases to 128, which ranks third all-time.
From NKU Athletics