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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information WILDER, Ky. - On a Veterans Day weekend, Northern Kentucky University's most veteran player made all the difference in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region championship game against Southern Illinois at Edwardsville. NKU fifth-year senior Chris Thompson scored the game's only goal as the Norse defeated, 1-0, to win their second straight Great Lakes Region championship on Sunday afternoon. NKU, ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, improved to 22-1 and will meet Appalachian Region champion Lincoln Memorial (16-3-1) next weekend in the national quarterfinals. Game time and location will be announced on NCAAsports.com. SIUE (11-4-3) dominated the first 20 minutes of play, controlling possession and allowing NKU few attacks early on. At the same time, play remained clean, with 15 minutes passing before the game's first foul was called. Thompson's fourth goal of the season came in the 41st minute on a throw-in from Tony Ray. The Louisville, Ky., native sent a long toss off the head of Braden Bishop, who flicked it along to a waiting Thompson, who's one-hop rocket from waist-high got past SIUE goalkeeper Greg Crook to tickle the twine. Not long after, rain dampened the field at Wilder, and lightning would halt the game in the 44th minute, forcing the teams to the locker rooms for a half-hour delay. When the teams returned, SIUE pressed once more, with Bob Ridder sending a shot just left of the frame as time expired in the first half.
The Cougars saw their best opportunity come in the 63rd minute after NKU's Nick Dressman was carded, giving SIUE a free kick. As the first ball sailed to the box, NKU goalkeeper Michael Lavric came out to challenge and punched the ball away, but right onto the waiting foot of Ross Beveridge. The senior fired quickly, but defender Eric Ashworth was able to head the ball out of danger and maintain the shutout for the Norse. Lavric finished out the game with four saves and picked up his ninth shutout of the season, and first since the beginning of the postseason. Crook was masterful in net for the Cougars with seven saves. Last year, the Norse defeated SIUE, 3-2, in overtime to claim the trophy for the first time in school history. 2007 NCAA DIVISION II GREAT LAKES REGIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM Mardoche Beya,
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