Kristen Votapek

ASHLAND, Ohio - Kristen Votapek’s goal with 2:41 remaining in the second overtime gave No. 25 Northern Kentucky University a 2-1 victory over No. 13 Ashland in a battle of nationally ranked NCAA Division II women’s soccer teams Tuesday afternoon.

Jayme Light started the winning sequence by playing the ball to Amy Law, who sent a ground cross to Votapek in front of the goal. Votapek finished by sending the ball past Ashland goalie Becky Kasper with just 2:41 left on the clock.

Law’s cross itself might have found the back of the net, but the speedy Votapek knocked it in with authority.

“It was really, really slow,” NKU head coach Bob Sheehan said of the winning score. “Kristen was there to knock it in.”

It was the fourth goal of the season for Votapek, a senior and a graduate of Amelia High School.

Ashland took a 1-0 lead just 14 minutes into the game when Renee Kozma scored from five yards out. The Eagles (5-2) held a 15-5 advantage in shots during the first half and a 1-0 edge at the break.

“I thought Ashland really had their way with us in the first half,” Sheehan said. “We were lucky to be down just a goal in the first half.”

Light drilled a 24-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net in the 75th minute to tie the contest at 1-1. The two teams battled through a scoreless first overtime period, setting the stage for Votapek’s winning shot.

“If we don’t go to the Final Four, I want Northern Kentucky to go,” Ashland head coach John Hall said. “I think they feel the same way. I’ve said this before, it’s so, so easy to win something once. It’s hard to keep doing it. I think we’ve earned respect from Northern Kentucky, and I’ve always respected Northern Kentucky.”

Sam Westerling recorded six saves for NKU, which improved to 4-1. The Norse also avenged a 1-0 loss to Ashland during last season’s NCAA Division II Tournament and upped their lead in the all-time series with the Eagles to 3-1-1.

“Ashland has a tremendous program. We have a lot respect for them,” Sheehan said.

NKU also extended its winning streak to four after suffering a season-opening loss to Lincoln Memorial.

NKU will resume GLVC play Friday with a 6 p.m. contest at Drury, which is in its first year as a member of the GLVC. The Norse will also play at Rockhurst (Mo.) at 1 p.m. Sunday in a GLVC game.

BOX SCORE

(recap quotes courtesy of Al King, Ashland Sports Information)