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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – After another convincing regional win Sunday, the Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team climbed three positions to land at No. 11 in this week’s NCAA Division II national poll. A 5-1 win over Findlay helped the Norse (3-0) continue their rise on the national scene entering this weekend’s Great Lakes Valley Conference opener against No. 17 Wisconsin-Parkside. Perennial Midwest Region powerhouse Grand Valley State continued its reign as the No. 1 team in the nation for the second straight week. West Chester (Pa.), UC-San Diego, Franklin Pierce and West Florida rounded out the top five teams. NKU has won its first three games of the season for the first time since 2002, when the Norse finished the year with a 20-1-2 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals. The success comes off the hard work of Bob Sheehan’s 2008 recruiting class, as freshman Amanda Mason leads the team with three goals and nine points. Kelly Sullivan has been strong as well, adding two goals and four assists on the year. Senior goalkeeper Angela Healy, fresh off her All-America campaign on the basketball floor, has been strong for the Norse in net as well, maintaining a 1.21 goals against average while earning all three wins as the starting keeper. NKU faces Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The Norse are winless in their last three trips to Kenosha, with their last victory coming during the 2001 season. The Norse close out the weekend Sunday with a GLVC contest at Lewis. |
