Aug. 22, 2000
NKU OPENS SEASON AGAINST MINNESOTA STATE
Norse also play at Missouri-Rolla this weekend
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team will open up its 2000 season at 2 p.m. this Saturday against Minnesota State University in a match that will be played at Rolla, Mo.
NKU, which posted a 22-3 record last season, returns 10 starters from its 1999 NCAA Division II Final Four team. The Norse are ranked No. 4 nationally in the Division II preseason poll.
Minnesota State posted a 10-8-1 record last season. The Mavericks met NKU a year ago and dropped a 2-0 decision to the Norse in a match played at Indianapolis, Ind. Minnesota State returns eight starters from last season.
On Sunday, NKU will meet the University of Missouri-Rolla at noon. The Lady Miners posted a 10-7-1 record last season and welcome back six starters. NKU defeated UMR, 3-1, last season at Wilder, Ky.
The Norse will return home Sept. 1 to meet Nebraska-Omaha at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky. NKU will also play host to Lincoln Memorial University at noon on Sept. 3.
SCORING MACHINE: NKU junior forward Betsy Moore earned first team NSCAA Division II All-America honors last season after scoring a school-record 21 goals. Moore also had 12 assists last year and was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year.
In her first two seasons, Moore has scored 37 goals and added 24 assists. Both totals are No. 1 in NKU women’s soccer history.
TOUGH DEFENSE: The NKU defense posted 16 shutouts last season, including a streak of eight consecutive shutouts. Junior goalie Lauren Piening, a first team All-GLVC selection, had a 0.55 goals against average and recorded the 16 shutouts. Piening also was All-Region.
Junior Eva Broeg, senior Malissa Stevenson and junior Jennifer Wilhelm also played outstanding defense in the backfield and return to the lineup this season. Junior midfielder/defender Amanda Trout, who earned second team All-GLVC honors a year ago, is another key for the NKU defense.
ABOUT THE COACH: NKU head coach Bob Sheehan enters the 2000 season with a record of 45-17-3 in three years with the Norse. He has led NKU to two straight GLVC Tournament championships, and last year Sheehan guided the Norse to the NCAA Division II Final Four.