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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information WILDER, Ky. - Braden Bishop scored twice Friday night, and teammates Chris Thompson and Nick Dressman also notched goals as the Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team defeated West Virginia Wesleyan, 4-0, in the John Toebben Classic presented by National City. The Norse, ranked No. 8 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, began the scoring in the 18th minute as Seth Eckerlin picked up a loose ball along the left side and sent a perfect crossing pass to Thompson, who buried a shot against the left post for NKU’s first goal. Thompson, picking up where he left off at the end of 2006, had a nearly identical opportunity arise in the 22nd minute, but his shot sailed just wide of the left post. Unselfish play earned the Norse their second goal, as a Chris Dobrowolski takeaway in midfield was sent ahead to Braden Bishop, who streaked up the right side. Bishop gave a centering pass to Jim Delaney, who passed up to Nick Dressman for his first collegiate goal in the 32nd minute of the match. Bishop, the 2006 Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, demonstrated why he earned that honor in the second half by scoring a pair of goals within 36 seconds of each other in the 58th and 59th minutes. The Norse defense was back to its old tricks, allowing the Bobcats just seven shots. Andy Ortman and Jeremy Curington combined on NKU’s shutout without facing a shot on goal. The final score matches the result between the two teams when they met last season in the John Toebben Classic. NKU will be back in action on Sunday morning as it takes on Truman State, a 2-1 winner over Bellarmine in the opener of the John Toebben Classic, at approximately 11:30 a.m. The match was originally scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. but was moved to an earlier time to avoid the extreme afternoon heat that has plagued the northern Kentucky area this week. |
