Oct. 30, 2001

NKU TO HOST GLVC TOURNAMENT

Norse (17-1) to play in GLVC semifinals at noon this Saturday

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team, now 17-1 overall and ranked No. 4 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, will play host to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament semifinals and finals this weekend (Nov. 3-4) at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky. The Norse are the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament and will play at noon on Nov. 3 against the winner of the University of Indianapolis/Saint Joseph’s College match, which will be held at Indianapolis on Oct. 31. NKU owns a 2-1 win over Indianapolis earlier this season, and the Norse posted a 3-0 victory at Saint Joseph’s on Sept. 30. NKU owns three consecutive GLVC Tournament championships, and the Norse are 8-0 all-time in the GLVC Tournament. NKU defeated the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 4-1, in last season’s GLVC championship match in Wilder, Ky. The GLVC championship match will be played at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Town & Country Sports Complex. Julia Kowzan’s goal off a direct kick early in the second half Sunday afternoon lifted Mercyhurst (Pa.) College to a 1-0 upset of NKU at the Town & Country Sports Complex. Kowzan’s goal, a 25-yard blast that sailed past NKU goalie Megan Zalla, came at the 57:06 mark and broke a scoreless tie. Mercyhurst goalie Meghan Frey, who finished with three saves, recorded the shutout as the Lakers (14-2-1) handed NKU its first regular-season loss since Aug. 27, 2000. NKU penetrated the Mercyhurst defense several times during the first half and had three excellent opportunities to score. Frey, however, stopped one potential goal with a save, and two other NKU shots were just wide. Prior to Sunday’s setback, NKU had not lost a home match since the 1998 season. The Norse also owned four consecutive wins against Mercyhurst until Sunday’s loss. NKU remains ranked No. 1 in the latest Great Lakes Region poll. Mercyhurst jumped to No. 2, with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at No. 3. Ashland University is No. 4 in the poll. The top three teams in the Great Lakes Region poll will advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament.