The Northern Kentucky University Men’s Soccer team defeated Millersville 5-4 in penalty kicks Nov. 22, to go to its first-ever NCAA Division II Final Four.
Junior forward Braden Bishop scored the only goal for the Norse in the 35th minute of the NCAA quarterfinal game. Bishop scored on a header shot with the assist from junior forward Alex Allison. The goal was Bishop’s eighth of the season.
Millersville would tie the score in the 85th minute on a header shot by Shane Seabrook, to notch the game at 1-1.
Neither team could manage much of anything in the two overtimes and the game advanced into penalty kicks.
Millersville started the shootout with a miss by Matthew Procopio and the save by NKU goalkeeper Michael Lavric.
Bishop went next for the Norse and made the penalty kick to go up 1-0.
The penalty kicks went neck-and-neck and NKU had the opportunity on the fifth kick to advance to the Final Four.
NKU defender Tony Ray made the attempt and got it past Millersville goalkeeper Matt Langione for the 5-4 decision and its first trip to the Final Four.
The Norse will head to Tampa, Fl. to play in the national semi-finals against Dowling. The time of the game is still to be determined.