WILDER, Ky. - The latest national rankings were released early Tuesday afternoon for NCAA Division II men’s soccer, and the poll had Mercyhurst (Pa.) College rated ninth and Northern Kentucky University 17th.
Those rankings will no doubt change next week after what happened Tuesday when the two unbeaten teams met at the Town & Country Sports Complex.
Mercyhurst is no longer unbeaten after dropping a 2-0 decision to NKU, and the Lakers will likely drop in next week’s poll. The Norse, now 6-0-2 overall, will probably move up considerably in the next national ranking after their impressive victory against the powerful Lakers (6-1-1).
Chris Thompson and Tony Capurro each netted goals for NKU, which won despite a 14-5 shot advantage for Mercyhurst. Norse goalie Nate Madden, who earlier on Tuesday was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week, finished with nine saves to keep NKU unbeaten.
Thompson gave NKU a 1-0 lead at the 17:02 mark when he chased down a long pass from Randy Walters for a breakaway goal. Thompson’s shot from 20 yards out darted past Laker goalie Marty Ruberry and found the back of the net.
Capurro sealed the victory for NKU at the 75:54 mark by taking a cross from Walters and finishing for his first career goal. Walters has four assists this season.
NKU has given up just one goal the entire season, that during a 2-1 win at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Madden has seven shutouts this season and a 0.11 goals against average.
NKU will hit the road this weekend and play at Quincy University on Friday.
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Tony Capurro |