ERIE, Pa. - Laurel Chalk snapped a 1-1 tie with a goal at the 78:33 mark Sunday to give the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over Mercyhurst (Pa.) College.
NKU, ranked No. 3 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, improved to 4-0 with the victory. Mercyhurst, ranked 19th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, dropped to 2-1.
Mercyhurst took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half when Melissa Poliseno scored a goal off an assist from Cheryl Wright. NKU tied the match at the 36:09 mark when Ashley McGuffey scored her first collegiate goal by blasting in a shot from 30 yards out after a corner kick by Carey Hebbeler.
The match remained tied until the 78:33 mark, when Stephanie Sandfoss placed the ball into the back post and Chalk finished the play with her first collegiate goal. The NKU defense held the Lakers scoreless the rest of the way, and the Norse posted the important road victory.
Sandfoss, a graduate of Highlands High School, now has four assists this season. She leads NKU in scoring with 10 total points.
NKU will return home this Friday night and play host to Tusculum (Tenn.) College at 7 p.m. at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky. The Norse will meet the nation’s top-ranked NCAA Division II team - Christian Brothers University - at 3 p.m. next Sunday at the Town & Country Sports Complex.
Stephanie Sandfoss