Naylor’s last-second goal lifts NKU women’s soccer to 1-0 win over Xavier on Thursday night

NKyTribune staff

Payton Naylor’s goal in the closing seconds of regulation lifted the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Xavier on Thursday night at the NKU Soccer Stadium.

With less than 30 seconds remaining, NKU’s Erin Sutton played the ball into the box. Naylor took the pass and slipped a shot past Xavier goalie Toni Bizzarro to give the Norse a 1-0 lead at the 89:45 mark. Naylor’s goal also lifted NKU to its first-ever win over Xavier.

Going into Thursday night, Xavier owned a 4-0-1 lead in the all-time series against NKU. The Musketeers defeated the Norse a year ago by a 2-1 score in Cincinnati.

Sutton and Hannah Fischer were each credited with assists on Naylor’s winning shot. It was the first goal of the season for Naylor, a senior from Columbus, Ohio, and the second goal of her career.

Naylor scored her first collegiate goal against Wright State on Oct. 14, 2015.

NKU improved to 2-1, while Xavier dropped to 1-2.

NKU goalie Emily Lohmann recorded the shutout and finished with five saves. Xavier finished with a 12-6 edge in shots (5-4 on goal) and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks, but the NKU defense and Lohmann’s performance in the net kept the Musketeers off the scoreboard.

NKU visits Cincinnati at 7 p.m. Sunday to meet the Bearcats.