Sept. 20, 2000

NORSE RANKED NO. 3 IN LATEST NATIONAL POLL

NKU plays at Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team, now 7-1 and ranked No. 3 nationally in the Division II poll, will travel to Owensboro, Ky., on Friday for a 4 p.m. match against Kentucky Wesleyan College. Defending NCAA Division II national champion Franklin Pierce (3-0) is No. 1 in the Division II rankings, followed by unbeaten (7-0) Barry (Fla.) and NKU. NKU is also ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division II Central Region ratings. The top seed in the ratings will host the first round of the NCAA Division II Central Region in November. Minnesota State - a team which NKU has already beaten by a 7-1 score earlier this season on a neutral field - is ranked No. 2 in the Central Region. NKU has now won six consecutive matches since a 5-3 loss at Missouri-Rolla on Aug. 27, and the Norse are 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. In addition to playing at KWC (2-3, 0-2 GLVC) on Friday, NKU will also return home on Sunday at 3 p.m. to meet the University of Indianapolis (3-5, 1-1 GLVC) at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder. NKU swept a pair of GLVC matches last weekend, posting a 2-0 win at Missouri-St. Louis on Friday, and a 4-0 victory at Quincy on Sunday. The Norse are tied with Saint Joseph's, Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois at Edwardsville for first place in the GLVC standings. Junior forward Betsy Moore is No. 2 in the GLVC in scoring with seven goals and three assists for 17 points. Moore is tied for No. 1 in the GLVC in goals scored with seven. Junior midfielder Tricia Ruark is No. 4 in the GLVC in scoring with four goals and eight assists for 16 points. Sophomore midfielder Bessie Black is No. 6 in scoring with six goals and three assists for 15 points. Junior goalie Lauren Piening is No. 2 in the GLVC with a goals against average of 1.06. NKU owns a 3-0 all-time record against KWC. The Norse defeated the Panthers, 5-0, last season at the Town & Country Sports Complex. Betsy Moore scored two goals and added an assist for NKU in that match. NKU is 2-0-1 all-time against Indianapolis. The Norse posted a 2-0 win against the Greyhounds last season at Indianapolis.