HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team, which is ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll for the sixth consecutive week, will travel to Louisville, Ky., on Friday for a 2:30 p.m. match against Bellarmine University.
NKU, now 14-0-1 overall, is 7-0-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Norse can wrap up the GLVC regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament with a victory at Bellarmine (12-5 overall, 4-4 GLVC).
NKU will also play a 3:30 p.m. match Sunday at Kentucky Wesleyan College (5-8, 1-7 GLVC).
NKU is 36-0-3 in its last 39 matches against GLVC teams. 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 will enter the GLVC Tournament as the four-time defending champion. The Norse will host a GLVC first-round contest at noon on Nov. 3 at the Town & Country Sports Complex.
If NKU is the No. 1 seed and wins in the first round, the Norse will play host to the semifinals on Nov. 8 and championship match on Nov. 10. Times for those matches will be announced next week.
Ashley McGuffey’s goal with 28 minutes remaining in regulation snapped a 1-1 tie last Friday and sparked NKU to a 3-1 victory over the University of Indianapolis. With the score tied at 1-1, Aisling Callaghan took a corner kick for NKU and the ball skidded outside to McGuffey.
The freshman drilled a shot from 20 yards out that eluded Indianapolis goalie Kyle Race to give NKU a 2-1 lead. It was McGuffey’s third goal of the season.
Kristen Noakes and Stephanie Sandfoss are tied for first place in the latest GLVC statistics with nine goals each. Sandfoss is No. 2 in the GLVC in scoring (1.6 ppg) with a total of 24 points.
Kristen Noakes