The Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team officially opens the 2016 season on Friday when it plays host to Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m.
The Norse then turn around to host Evansville on Sunday at 2 p.m. at NKU Soccer Stadium.
Friday’s match will be carried live on ESPN3. Links to live stats for both matches are available on NKUNorse.com.
Northern Kentucky Norse (0-0-0) vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers (0-0-0)
Friday, Aug. 26 – 7 p.m.
Highland Heights, Ky. – NKU Soccer Stadium
ESPN3Northern Kentucky Norse vs. Evansville Purple Aces (0-0-0)
Sunday, Aug. 28 – 2 p.m.
Highland Heights, Ky. – NKU Soccer Stadium
PRESEASON WRAP-UP: The Norse played a pair of exhibition matches this preseason. NKU fell to Rio Grande, 3-1, and defeated Kentucky at home, 3-0, in front of an NKU Soccer Stadium record crowd of 2,522 fans. Jacob Cunningham scored NKU’s goal against the Red Storm on an assist from freshman Tucker Monheimer. Against UK, Kobie Qualah netted NKU’s first goal just 13 minutes into the game. Campbell Morris scored the second goal on a rebounded shot in the 41st minute, followed by a Johannes Jansen penalty kick goal in the 73rd minute to seal the win. Sophomore Christian Carey and freshman Jared Leyland split time in goal for the shutout.
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS: The Panthers went 3-14 last season, including 1-5 in The Summit League. EIU registered exhibition victories over Saint Xavier (Ill.), 2-0, Drake, 4-2, and played Illinois Springfield to a 1-1 draw this preseason. The Panthers lost leading scorer Tyler Oliver but return Trevor Kerns, who was second on the team with eight points including three goals last season. Junior Mike Novotny was the primary goalkeeper in 2015, clocking 1377:51 minutes with a 2.81 goals-against average.
SCOUTING EVANSVILLE: The Purple Aces travel to Xavier on Friday before taking on the Norse on Sunday. Evansville posted a 1-0 exhibition victory over IUPUI on Aug. 20 and are coming off a 3-13 season in 2015 where it went 0-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The squad lost each of its three leading scorers from last year and return Ian McGrath, who had seven points on two goals and three assists. The Purple Aces managed 1.25 goals per game while opponents averaged 2.69. They return Matthew Keller and Greg Niven, who split time in goal last year.
SERIES HISTORIES: NKU is 3-0 all-time against Eastern Illinois with two of the teams’ three meetings going into overtime. The first meeting came on Sept. 8, 2013, when the Norse registered a 2-1 overtime victory over EIU in Dayton, Ohio.
On Oct. 21 last season, the Norse defeated EIU in overtime, 2-1, on the road. NKU’s Jacob Cunningham posted an assist on each of NKU’s two goals. Returning forward Kobie Qualah netted NKU’s golden goal just 31 seconds into the first overtime period.
The Norse have an 0-1 record against Evansville after falling to the Purple Aces, 4-0, on Nov. 3 of last season.
2015 SUMMARY: The Norse are coming off an 8-7-4 campaign in 2015 that included a 4-2-3 Horizon League record as a first-year member. NKU finished third in the regular season to earn hosting rights to a League quarterfinal match against Wright State. The Norse fell, 2-0, to the Raiders, who advanced to the final round.
OFFICIAL DIVISION I STATUS: NKU Athletics announced on Aug. 9 that the NCAA Board granted the department active status as a Division I institution. With active Division I status, NKU is now able to compete for NCAA Championship berths for the first time since the Norse started the four-year reclassification process in the 2012-13 campaign.
ESPN3 BROADCASTS: The season opener against Eastern Illinois will be carried on ESPN3 in addition to home games against Milwaukee (Sept. 17), Wright State (Sept. 24), Cincinnati (Sept. 28), Cleveland State (Oct. 8) and Detroit (Oct. 22).
UP NEXT: Following the pair of season-opening home games, the Norse hit the road for a string of four away matches beginning with a trip to Chicago to take on Loyola on Friday, Sept. 2, and DePaul on Sunday, Sept. 4.
From NKU Athletics