-----Braden Bishop

ERIE, Pa. - Northern Kentucky University's defense did the job again Sunday afternoon as the Norse pulled out a 1-0 road victory against Mercyhurst.

Junior goalie Andy Ortman posted his fourth shutout of the season and had three saves for NKU, which improved to 6-2-1. Mercyhurst, which had won eight straight going into Sunday, dropped to 9-2.

Only eight shots on goal were taken by the two teams combined, and each keeper was forced to make just one save during the first 45 minutes of play.

The second half was much of the same until NKU was awarded a penalty kick following a foul in the box. Norse freshman Braden Bishop beat Mercyhurst keeper Daniel Mudd for the only score of the contest at the 64:54 mark.

It was the sixth goal of the season for Bishop, a graduate of Centerville High School.

NKU will play host to Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Bellarmine at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Wilder, Ky. The Norse then hit the road for GLVC games at Wisconsin-Parkside (Friday) and Lewis (Sunday).

A year ago in the opening round of the GLVC Tournament, sixth-seeded NKU stunned third-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside, 2-1, at Kenosha, Wis.

BOX SCORE