The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team wraps up a three-match road swing on Friday when it travels to take on defending Horizon League champion Valparaiso at Brown Field. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
The Norse look to remain undefeated in the League before returning home to host rival Wright State on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
LAST TIME OUT: NKU issued a strong second-half performance to overcome an early 1-0 deficit and defeat Detroit, 3-1. Junior Hanna Pateryn scored her first goal of the season to tie the game in the 23rd minute before Macy Hamblin scored the game winner at the 60 minute mark, followed by an insurance goal from Katelyn Newton. Jessica Frey dished out a pair of assists in the win.
ABOUT VALPARAISO: In their most recent game, Oakland handed the Crusaders (4-4-3, 2-1-1 Horizon) their first Horizon League loss since October of 2013 as Valpo fell on the road, 3-1. The Crusaders, who were unanimously picked to finish first in the League in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, are led offensively by April Cronin with who has five goals and 12 total points. Valpo has scored 19 goals across 11 games including 11 goals against League foes. Sydney Galvez-Daley owns a team-high 874:09 minutes in goal and boasts a 1.13 goals against average and .686 save percentage.
NORSE NOTES:
Valparaiso is the sixth out of 10 first-time opponents the Norse will face this season as NKU has a record of 3-2 in those contests. The Norse have defeated Charleston Southern, The Citadel and Horizon League foe UIC and fell to Illinois and Toledo in first-time meetings. Following the Valpo match, NKU will see action against League opponents Cleveland State, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Wright State for the first time in program history.
Sophomores Hamblin and Frey have been neck-and-neck as NKU’s point leaders this season. The two have not been separated by more than two points all season. Hamblin’s goal against Detroit helped her to tie Frey with a team-high four goals on the season. Hamblin is tied for first in the League in total points with 13. Frey trails with 12 total points, the third-most in the Horizon League.
With a record of 3-0 in its inaugural season as a member of the Horizon League, NKU has tied its mark for most conference wins in a Division I season. In the Atlantic Sun, NKU posted a pair of three-win conference campaigns coming in 2012 and 2014. Additionally, NKU is just two wins shy of tying its Division I record for overall wins after posting nine total victories last season. Including Friday’s match, NKU has six remaining contests, all against Horizon League opponents.
NKU ranks in the top two in the League in shots, points, goals, assists, goals allowed and goals against average. The Norse have a League-high 173 shots, 2.30 goals per game average and 2.60 assists per game average. Junior goalkeeper Brooke Schocker has helped NKU to allow a League-low eight goals for a 0.80 goals against average. NKU ranks second in goals scored with 23 and assists with 26 across 10 matches played.
Four different Norse have at least four points in Horizon League contests. While Hamblin leads in points overall, Frey has a team-high five points in League matches with one goal and three assists. Hamblin, Morgan Shafer and Katelyn Newton each trail with four points between the first three Horizon League matches as each have scored a pair of goals.
From NKU Athletics