Kristen Votapek

WILDER, Ky. - Kristen Votapek and Alex Armstrong each scored second-half goals Friday night as the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team posted a 2-0 win over Wheeling Jesuit in the first round of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament at the Town & Country Sports Complex.

Lauren Franzen and Votapek each recorded assists as top-seeded NKU won its 15th consecutive game and improved to 19-2. The NKU defense allowed just one shot in the second half en route to posting its 11th shutout of the season.

Votapek snapped a scoreless tie at the 55:07 mark by drilling a 15-yard shot past Wheeling Jesuit goalie Lauren Lewicki off an assist from Franzen. It was the 16th goal of the season for Votapek, a graduate of Amelia High School who earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year this fall.

Franzen began the play by sending the ball into the box and putting Votapek in perfect scoring position. The senior forward dribbled and fired a shot into the left side of the net.

Armstrong sealed the victory for top-seeded NKU at the 72:39 mark by blasting 15-yard shot into the back of the net. That score was set up by Votapek, who dribbled into the open and sent a perfect cross into the box.

Armstrong, who was named GLVC Freshman of the Year last week, finished the play with her 11th goal of the season to make it 2-0. It was the 18th assist of the season for Votapek, who leads the GLVC in scoring.

Sam Westerling picked up the shutout as NKU improved to 6-0-1 in the all-time series against Wheeling Jesuit. NKU finished with a 13-3 advantage in shots.

Wheeling Jesuit, the No. 4 seed in the Great Lakes Region, finished the season 20-4.

NKU will meet No. 2 seed Grand Valley State (18-2) for the Great Lakes Region championship at noon Sunday. Grand Valley State held off Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, 1-0, in the second game Friday night.

The winner of the Great Lakes Region will advance to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals and play a road game against the winner of the Central Region Nov. 19 or 20.

NKU has won regional titles in 1999, 2000, ’01, ’02 and ’03. NKU was also national runner-up in 2000.

BOX SCORE

NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament (at Wilder, Ky.)

Friday, Nov. 11

#1 Northern Kentucky 2, #4 Wheeling Jesuit 0

#2 Grand Valley State 1, #3 S. Illinois at Edwardsville 0

Sunday, Nov. 13

NKU vs. Grand Valley State, noon

Click here for directions to Town & Country Sports Complex at Wilder, Ky.