The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team made NKU history on Saturday as it captured the University’s first Division I conference championship, defeating No. 1 seed Milwaukee, 3-2, after erasing a 2-0 first-half deficit in the Horizon League Championship match at Engelmann Stadium.
“I continue to be really proud of our players that work hard, persevere and continuously overcome adversity. This was really a well-deserved victory,” said 20th-year head coach Bob Sheehan. “The team stays together, creates a positive atmosphere and has a real sense of comradery. All of that comes out on the field. If they go down, they find a way to come together and compete. Overall, I’m extremely really proud of the entire team.”
The victory came in comeback fashion after the Norse surrendered a pair of goals to Milwaukee in the opening 20 minutes to trail 2-0. NKU held Milwaukee scoreless throughout the remainder of the match and found the game-winner in the 88th minute off the foot of freshman Shawna Zaken for the 3-2 win.
The Norse are set to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance in the first year the Norse were eligible to do so since being granted active Division I status in August. The NCAA selection show is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
All-Tournament Team
Junior forward and First-Team All-League selection Jessica Frey was named the Horizon League Championship MVP after posting three goals and three assists across NKU’s three postseason matches.
Junior forward Macy Hamblin, senior midfielder Katelyn Newton and Zaken, a freshman forward, were also named to the All-Tournament team.
NKU Scoring Summary
A trio of freshmen connected for NKU’s game-winner with just two minutes left in regulation. Zaken scored her second goal in as many games to set up NKU for the victory. Fellow freshmen Emily Soltes and Ally Perkins were credited on the double-assist.
The game-winner came after Frey knotted the game at 2-2 on a back-heel shot from inside the six-yard box. Her goal came off a Payton Naylor shot attempt that was taken off a free kick from Sami Rutowski. Naylor’s shot was deflected off the post and fell at the feet of Frey for the goal.
NKU’s first goal came from Hamblin in the 43rd minute to cut the Milwaukee lead to 2-1 right before halftime. Sophomore defender Taylor Spaulding served an up-field pass that was flicked forward on a header from Frey. Hamblin finished from the close left wing for the tally.
Between The Posts
Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Lohmann posted a career-high eight saves, including six in the second period, to hold the Panthers’ scoreless across the second half.
Milwaukee keeper Mallory Geurts picked up five saves and was assisted by one team save.
Milwaukee capitalized on the first corner kick of the match, depositing its first shot attempt into the back of the goal in the 12th minute. McKaela Schmelzer scored on a header from the right side of the six-yard box off the corner.
The Panthers extended their lead to 2-0 on a goal from Anna Smalley in the 17th minute after the ball was bobbled around the box.
NKU fired four shots, three on goal, across the last five minutes of the half. Hamblin’s 43rd-minute marker cut the deficit to 2-1 just before halftime.
The NKU defense held off an aggressive Milwaukee offense that posted 13 second-half shots while the Norse managed nine.
Between the 76 and 78 minutes, Lohmann came up with a trio of saves to keep the match tied at 2-2 to set up the Norse for the game-winner.
Norse Notes
Zaken scored two goals in the last two matches, playing a key role in fueling NKU’s back-to-back postseason comeback wins. The freshman netted the equalizer in a 3-2 win over Detroit Mercy in the semifinals before scoring the game-winner against Milwaukee in the championship.
Frey posted nine points across the last three postseason matches. She boosted her season point total to 26 as the junior has an NKU Division-I era program record 10 goals and six assists. Hamblin, the two-time Horizon League Player of the Year, is the team-leader in points with 26 on nine goals and nine assists.
NKU has posted a new Division-I era record in victories in each of its five seasons at the Division I level. They enter the NCAA Tournament with a 13-6-1 overall record.
The last time the Norse advanced to the NCAA Tournament was in 2011 when NKU earned its eighth Great Lakes Valley Conference title and made its 11th NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.
The Norse have been eligible to compete for a Division I conference championship for the last three seasons and have advanced to the semifinals or beyond in each of those seasons.
Up Next
NKU’s NCAA Tournament opponent and location will be determined during the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament Selection Show, which is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The first round of the NCAA Tournament will take place Nov. 11-13 at campus sites.
From NKU Athletics