HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Much will be at stake for both Northern Kentucky University soccer teams Friday evening, when the Norse play host to a doubleheader with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Wilder, Ky.
The NKU men, unbeaten at 4-0-1 going into their Great Lakes Valley Conference opener at 5 p.m., moved up to 18th nationally in this week’s NCAA Division II poll. It is the Norse’s highest national ranking since being 14th in the poll during the 1996 season.
Wisconsin-Parkside has been a nemesis for NKU the past decade, and the Rangers own a 5-1 record going into Friday. NKU is 1-8-1 against Wisconsin-Parkside during the past seven years and has been outscored by a 26-7 margin in those games.
NKU has allowed just one goal in five games this season. Norse senior goalie Nate Madden owns a 0.19 goals against average.
The NKU women, 3-2 after suffering a 2-0 loss at Ferris State last Saturday, will play Wisconsin-Parkside at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Rangers are 5-0 and ranked No. 8 nationally in the Division II poll, while NKU is 23rd in the ratings.
Wisconsin-Parkside ended NKU’s five-year reign as GLVC Tournament champion last fall by edging the Norse in a penalty-kick shootout during the finals.
That match with Wisconsin-Parkside is officially recorded as a 1-1 tie, however, and NKU will enter Friday with an unbeaten streak of 57 consecutive matches against GLVC opponents. NKU is 51-0-6 against GLVC teams during the past four years.
The Norse have not lost to a GLVC opponent since Oct. 9, 1999, when Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville posted a 3-1 win over NKU.
NKU features junior midfielder Katie Hanck, who leads the team in scoring with two goals and three assists.
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Katie Hanck |