Northern Kentucky men’s soccer played the Cincinnati Bearcats, which is ranked 28th in the most recent RPI rankings, to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday evening at the NKU Soccer Stadium. Freshman Owen Betz and a strong defensive effort helped the Norse notch the shutout.
With the result, Northern Kentucky stands at 0-8-2 and Cincinnati is now 5-3-1.
Betz earned his first start in goal, posting a clean sheet with 110-minutes between the posts. He finished with two saves on the day. Betz’s clean sheet was the first shutout by NKU since a 0-0 draw with Valparaiso on Oct. 17 of last season.
Freshman Owen Betz and a strong defensive effort helped the Norse notch the shutout (NKU Athletics Photo)
Pedro Diaz played all 110-minutes in goal for UC. He made five saves on the day.
The Norse held a first-half advantage in shots, including the lone attempt of the stanza for either team that was placed on goal.
Anders Mathiesen recorded the attempt on frame. He took a shot on a free kick from about 25-yards out along the left edge of the box. The ball was placed on the left near post, but saved by Cincinnati keeper Pedro Diaz.
Betz was up to the task on the first save of his collegiate career. In the 53rd-minute, UC served a ball into the box off a free kick. UC’s Ryan Melink flicked a header that Betz made a leaping save on.
Kobie Qualah made a run in the 59’, collecting a long throw from Betz after the keeper made a save. Qualah collected the ball near midfield, raced up the left sideline before cutting into the middle and skipping a sharply hit ball along the turf. Diaz made a diving save.
NKU had another terrific attempt with just over 20 minutes to play. Joey Sabato played a ball across the box from the left wing that found the foot of Liam Evans, who one-timed a hard shot that went right to the chest of Diaz.
Cincinnati had a scoring opportunity in the 95th-minute, but Northern Kentucky’s defense forced Melink’s shot wide right. Moments later, Tucker Monheimer nearly put the game away. On a ball that was play into Monheimer in the box, he took a shot that Diaz made a one-handed diving save to corral.
The Norse finished with a flurry in the final minute of the game as well. Qualah took a shot from inside the right side of the box that was blocked out for a corner kick. He then placed a header off the corner that went just wide left.
Norse Notes
· NKU outshot UC, 17-15, which included a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal.
· The Bearcats took eight corners, while the Norse took five.
· Qualah took a team-high three shots. Wlademir Babaew, Mathiesen, Monnheimer, Campbell Morris and Liam Evans took two apiece.
Up Next: NKU heads to the Windy City for a Horizon League showdown with UIC on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kick-off in Chicago is slated for 8 p.m. (ET)/7 p.m. (CT).
From NKU Athletics
