Kristen Votapek

RENSSELAER, Ind. - Kristen Votapek tied a school record with four assists Friday night as the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament with a 9-0 victory over Saint Joseph’s.

Votapek also scored a goal for NKU, which won its 10th consecutive game to wrap up the GLVC regular-season crown. The Norse improved to 14-2 overall, 11-1 in the GLVC.

Votapek, a senior forward and a graduate of Amelia High School, assisted the Norse’s first four goals of the game to tie Betsy Moore’s NKU record. Moore accomplished the feat twice, the last time in 2001 against Lewis.

Amy Law, Alex Armstrong and Lauren Franzen scored two goals apiece for NKU, which is ranked No. 7 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Saint Joseph’s dropped to 6-10-1 overall, 5-7 in the GLVC.

Amy Martini and Carla Schierloh both scored a goal and added an assist. Norse goalies Sam Westerling and Kelly Bare combined for the shutout.

NKU will begin the GLVC Tournament Oct. 30 as the No. 1 seed with a home contest against the No. 8 seed. If the Norse win their first-round game, they will also play host to the GLVC Tournament semifinals and finals Nov. 4-6 at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky.

NKU owns a 45-1-4 record against GLVC opponents at the Town & Country Sports Complex since moving its home games to the Wilder facility in 1998. One of the ties came two years ago against Wisconsin-Parkside in the GLVC Tournament championship game. The Rangers then edged NKU in a penalty-kick shootout to claim the GLVC title.

The Norse are also No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region rankings. If NKU remains No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region, the Norse will play host to the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament Nov. 11-13.

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