-----Jenna Kramer

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - As is usually the case when Northern Kentucky University and Quincy meet in women’s soccer, one team will be attempting to protect its national ranking in the NCAA Division II poll.

But, unlike past years, it is Quincy - ranked 12th nationally - which is featured in the latest poll. NKU, meanwhile, will attempt to climb back into the rankings by knocking off Quincy on the road on Friday night.

The Norse dropped out of the national poll after an upset loss to Indianapolis last week. NKU entered that game ranked No. 11 in the NCAA Division II poll, but a 2-1 setback to the Greyhounds was enough to knock the Norse out of this week’s poll.

Quincy is 5-0 overall, 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. NKU enters Friday 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the GLVC.

NKU owns a 9-1-1 lead in the all-time series with Quincy. The Lady Hawks have not defeated the Norse since 1997, when NKU fielded women’s soccer for a varsity sport for the first time.

A year ago, NKU pulled out a 2-1 overtime win over Quincy at Wilder, Ky. Alex Armstrong’s goal in the second overtime gave NKU the victory.

Jayme Light leads NKU in scoring with three goals. Amy Law has a goal and two assists, while freshman goalie Jenna Kramer has 0.50 goals against average and three shutouts.

In the men’s game, NKU (3-1 overall, 1-1 GLVC) meets a winless (0-4 overall, 0-2 GLVC) Quincy team. The Hawks have scored just one goal in four games this season and allow an average of 2.00 goals per contest.

A year ago, Quincy posted a 3-0 win over NKU at Wilder, Ky.

On Sunday, NKU will meet No. 11 Southern Illinois at Edwardsville at 3:30 p.m. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four last season and are 31-0-4 against GLVC teams during their last 35 games.