HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team, ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll for the seventh consecutive week, will close out the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday with a home contest against West Virginia Wesleyan College (11-4-1) at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky.
NKU, 15-0-2 overall, captured the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season title last Sunday with a 6-0 win at Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Norse are the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament and will host a first-round match at noon Sunday against the No. 8 seed, either Saint Joseph’s College or the University of Indianapolis.
If Saint Joseph’s defeats or ties Bellarmine University this Thursday, Indianapolis will be the No. 8 seed. A loss by Saint Joseph’s against Bellarmine would knock the Pumas into the No. 8 seed.
If the Norse win their first-round match, the GLVC semifinals and championship will also be hosted at the Town & Country Sports Complex Nov. 8 and Nov. 10. The times for the semifinals on Nov. 8 will be 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with NKU playing in the late contest.
The GLVC championship will be played at noon on Nov. 10. NKU has never lost (10-0 all-time) in the GLVC Tournament.
Pairings for the NCAA Division II Tournament will be announced on Nov. 10. NKU is currently ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region, and the Norse are looking to secure the homefield advantage for an NCAA Tournament match on Nov. 16.
Kendra Zinser scored two goals and added three assists Sunday as NKU defeated Kentucky Wesleyan. Bessie Black and Stephanie Sandfoss also scored two goals each for the Norse, who will enter the GLVC Tournament as the four-time defending champion.
Sandfoss continues to lead the GLVC in scoring with 11 goals and seven assists (1.7 ppg). As a team, NKU ranks No. 1 in the GLVC in offense (2.9 gpg) and No. 2 in defense (0.5 gpg).
NKU is 37-0-4 in its last 41 matches against GLVC teams. The Norse have not lost to a GLVC opponent since Oct. 9, 1999, when Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville posted a 3-1 win over NKU.
Stephanie Sandfoss