WILDER, Ky. - Aisling Callaghan’s penalty-kick goal at the 82:32 mark Sunday afternoon gave the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team a 1-0 victory over top-ranked Christian Brothers University at the Town & Country Sports Complex.
With the match scoreless and less than eight minutes remaining in regulation, NKU’s Stephanie Sandfoss received a long pass, beat the Christian Brothers defense off the dribble and appeared to have a breakaway. Christian Brothers defender Veronica Botold, however, took down Sandfoss in the penalty box area and was given a red card.
Callaghan took the ensuing penalty kick and converted the opportunity for the only goal of the contest.
Christian Brothers, unbeaten and ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll going into Sunday’s match against NKU, dropped to 4-1. NKU, ranked No. 3 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, is now 6-0.
NKU’s defense held Missy Gregg - who set an NCAA single-season record by scoring 73 goals a year ago - to just two shots on Sunday. The Norse’s Hope Bushelman marked Gregg, who had 15 goals already this season going into Sunday, most of the afternoon and was a key for the Norse defense.
Freshman Ashley McGuffey also made an outstanding defensive play late in the second half to stop a Christian Brothers shot. Sophomore Robyn Withers also made a pair of key defensive stops for the Norse, who will play host to the University of Southern Indiana at 8 p.m Friday.
Hope Bushelman