Despite key graduation losses, NKU women appear ready to challenge for Horizon League title

NKyTribune staff

In 21 years as head coach of the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer program, Bob Sheehan has guided the Norse through three conferences and a move from NCAA Division II to Division I.

Sheehan has also won more than 300 games, led NKU to seven Great Lakes Valley Conference championships in Division II, and he’s now built an emerging power in the Horizon League.

NKU — which captured the Horizon League championship two years ago and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament — welcomes back 17 returning players from last season’s 9-6-2 team. The Norse finished second in the Horizon League regular-season standings with a 6-1-2 record and were knocked out by IUPUI in the tournament semifinals.

Sheehan’s Norse must replace three-time Horizon League Player of the Year Macy Hamblin (10 goals, four assists) as well as offensive standout Jessica Frey (11 goals, four assists) from last season. Among the returnees are Emily Soltes (two goals, three assists) and Ally Perkins (two goals, five assists).

The NKU defense returns several key players, including Taylor Spaulding (All-Horizon League second team) and goalie Emily Lohmann (69 saves, .802 save percentage). The Norse also welcome six newcomers — Lily Menssen, Ashleigh Cronin, Morgan Jewell, Ella Holland, Madelyn Koewler and Chloe Mills — to the team this season.

Sheehan, the only head coach in NKU women’s soccer history, owns an all-time record of 306-100-28 (.737). Sheehan led the Norse to the NCAA Division II national semifinals in 1999, and NKU finished as national runner up the next season, dropping a last-second 2-1 decision to UC San Diego in the championship game.

Under Sheehan’s guidance, Betsy Moore led NKU to four GLVC championships from 1998-2001 and three trips to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Moore, an NKU and GLVC Hall of Famer, scored a school-record 70 goals during her career en route to a total of 186 points and was a three-time NSCAA first team All-American.

Since NKU’s move to NCAA Division I, Sheehan has coached in both the Atlantic Sun Conference and Horizon League. His teams are 18-5-4 in Horizon League play and have a 4-1-1 record in the Horizon League Tournament.

NKU will play exhibitions against Middle Tennessee State, Miami (Ohio) and Lindsey Wilson before opening the regular season on Aug. 17 with a home contest against Indiana State at 7 p.m.