-----Seth Eckerlin crosses for the winning assist

WILDER, Ky. - The defense controlled the field much of the afternoon, and Chris Thompson provided a clutch goal in the second half as Northern Kentucky University posted a 1-0 victory over Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday.

After playing Missouri-St. Louis to a scoreless first half, NKU struck for the only goal of the game at the 56:04 mark. Thompson finished off a crossing pass from Seth Eckerlin for his second goal of the season to give the Norse a 1-0 lead, and the defense did the rest.

Thompson, a junior and a graduate of Elder High School, now has 13 career goals. NKU improved to 5-2-1 overall, 3-2-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Missouri-St. Louis dropped to 4-3 overall, 1-3 in the GLVC. A year ago, NKU and Missouri-St. Louis played to a scoreless tie at St. Louis, Mo.

On Sunday, NKU limited the Rivermen to one shot in the first half and finished with a 20-6 advantage in that category. Norse junior goalie Andy Ortman registered the shutout and finished with three saves, all coming in the second half.

It was the third shutout of the season for Ortman, a graduate of Roger Bacon High School.

Missouri-St. Louis goalie Zach Hoette collected six saves in 90 minutes of action.

NKU plays host to Ashland at 7 p.m. Friday at the Town & Country Sports Complex. The Norse will then travel to Erie, Pa., to meet Mercyhurst at 3 p.m. next Sunday.

BOX SCORE