Northern Kentucky Norse soccer programs seeking history NCAA Tournament berths
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (BVM) — This weekend could be a historic one for both the Northern Kentucky University men’s and women’s soccer programs. Both teams will be in their respective Horizon League Tournament Championship games as both teams take on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday. The women play at 1 p.m. EST and the men take the pitch at 5 p.m. EST at NKU Soccer Stadium.
If the two teams were to win their matchups, it would mark only the second time the women would earn a tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament while it would be the first time the men win the tournament title and enter the NCAA Tournament.
The Northern Kentucky women have been consistently in the front of the Horizon League pack throughout the season, earning the coveted No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with an 8-1-1 overall record and a 7-0-1 record in conference. The team is led by senior midfielder/forward Kailey Ivins, who has scored five goals, dished three assists and has accounted for 13 points. Of her five goals, three have been game winners, showing the significance of Ivins to the team which was recognized by the conference as she was named both the Horizon League Player of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year.
Though Ivins may be the team’s brightest star, she has certainly received help throughout the season. Junior goalkeeper Mimi Stines has only allowed three goals all season while making 32 saves on 78 total shots. With eight shutout performances, Stines was tabbed as both the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year as well as the Goalkeeper of the Year.
In addition to Stines and Ivins’ all-conference honors, junior defender Chloe Mills, junior defender Lily Menssen and sophomore forward Lindsey Meyer were all named to the All-Horizon League second team, while midfielder/forward Kaya Vogt and midfielder/forward Sofia Wilmes were also named to the All-Freshman squad. Head coach Bob Sheehan was also recognized as the Horizon League Coach of the Year proving the Norse to be a tough out in all facets of the game.
The men’s side also earned the top seed in the Horizon League tournament following a 7-1 season which consisted of all conference games. After a first-game loss to Detroit Mercy, the Norse have rattled off seven straight wins en route to a No. 22 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
The team picked up its first-ever Horizon League regular-season championship on March 30 after defeating a nationally-ranked UIC team 1-0 and has been led by junior forward Dylan Bufton and senior midfielder/defender Justin Earle who both earned first team All-Horizon League honors. Junior goalkeeper Daniel Bermingham also earned first team honors and was named the conference’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Sophomore midfielder Ryan Godding was named second team all-conference while freshmen Roberto Burlew and Deryn Armstrong were named to the conference’s all-freshman team.
Head coach Stu Riddle was also recognized as the Horizon League Coach of the Year, which in addition to his team’s performance on the pitch can be at least partially attributed to his shrewd use of the transfer portal in the offseason. Adding Bufton from Tyler Junior College and sophomore forward Sam Robinson from the University of Cincinnati following the discontinuation of their program has paid major dividends for the Norse this season. In addition to Robinson, was also able to add two more former Bearcats to the roster, sophomore midfielder Kyle Healy and sophomore midfielder/forward Ben Hegge, giving the Norse some talented players from a well-respected program.
With two of its teams vying for conference championships, Northern Kentucky could be in for a special NCAA Soccer Tournament season as the Norse teams try to achieve something that has never been done before: both teams on the country’s biggest stage. Norse fans are hoping to witness history on Saturday.
