ROLLA, Mo. - Chris Thompson and Randy Walters each scored first-half goals Sunday as the Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team remained unbeaten with a 2-1 victory over the University of Missouri-Rolla.
NKU, 4-0-1 and ranked 25th nationally in the latest NCAA Division II poll, took a 1-0 lead 24 minutes into the contest when Thompson broke free and scored an unassisted goal. It was the first goal of the season for Thompson, a graduate of Elder High School in Cincinnati.
Walters gave NKU a 2-0 lead seven minutes later when he converted a penalty kick, and the Norse held the two-goal advantage at halftime.
Missouri-Rolla (1-5) cut the lead to 2-1 at the 52:46 mark when Assane Diouf headed in a shot that was assisted by both Justin Lightner and Dan Gravlin. That was also the first goal allowed by the NKU defense this season.
NKU goalie Nate Madden recorded four saves, including three in the second half, as the Norse held on for the victory. It was the fourth straight one-goal victory for NKU.
The Norse will begin Great Lakes Valley Conference play this Friday at 5 p.m. against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky.
A year ago, Wisconsin-Parkside handed NKU a 2-1 loss at Kenosha, Wis. The Rangers own a 5-1 record after posting a 1-0 victory over Truman State University on Sunday.
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Chris Thompson |