The Independent Student Newspaper of Northern Kentucky University.

The Northerner
The Independent Student Newspaper of Northern Kentucky University.

The Northerner
The Independent Student Newspaper of Northern Kentucky University.

The Northerner

Watching the Norse: Athletics recap and review

Jakob Staley, Assistant Sports Editor
September 3, 2024
Provided | NKU Athletics
Women’s cross country competed in the 2024 Queen City Invitational on Aug. 30.

Previous week recap:

Thursday, Aug. 29

  • Men’s soccer lost to Belmont 2-1. Belmont took a 2-0 lead after scoring goals in the 15th and 30th minutes. Nico Stoddart scored his first goal of the season in the 40th minute, and the Norse tried to rally back with a few good shots in the second half but couldn’t get it done.
  • Women’s soccer lost to Miami (OH) 3-1. Meghan Belrose scored her first goal of the season in fashion blasting an absolute missile off a free kick in the 36th minute. The Norse set a new season high 10 shots on goal showing a strong effort but just coming up short.

Friday, Aug. 30

  • Women’s and men’s cross country started off their season strong. Both programs made it a clean sweep at the 2024 Queen City Invitational winning both the titles and individual titles. Natnael Weldemichael won the meet championship in 14:59.4, nearly 22 seconds faster than the next closest student-athlete. Grace Biddle made it back-to-back as she claimed the crown on the women’s side with a time of 18:50.6. On the men’s side, Colton O’Hara (third, 15:29.4), Stetson Childress (sixth, 15:51.5) and Samsun Weldemichael (ninth, 16:11.2). The women had five student-athletes in the top 10 in total. Brittany Arnold placed second (19:04.2), Carlie Condit took sixth (20:08.9), Allie Atchley came in seventh (20:16.8) and Abby Slife rounded things out in ninth (20:31.4). 
  • Women’s volleyball lost to 9th ranked University of Kentucky, losing 3-0. The Norse received an impressive performance from freshman Allison Risley in her collegiate debut. Risley led NKU in kills and aces. Another freshman, Lainey Green, impressed as well. Green led the Norse in assists. Ivey Stocks posted three kills and a team-high three blocks in the season opener. Lucy Cluxton posted a team-high six digs in the loss.

Saturday, Aug. 31

  • Women’s volleyball lost game one of a doubleheader to Western Kentucky losing 3-0. Lucy Cluxton led all players in the match with 19 digs, adding five assists and two aces. Allison Risley nearly posted a double-double in her second collegiate match with nine kills and 12 digs, adding three blocks as well. The Norse battled WKU keeping each set close, but WKU pulled out the first 25-21 and the second set 31-29. The Norse tried to keep up with WKU but couldn’t in the third set.
  • Women’s volleyball got their first win of the season against Morehead State winning 3-1. It was great all around play for the Norse; Joy Banks, Lainey Green, Torie Houston and Lucy Cluxton all posted double-doubles. Morehead State won the first set but the Norse bounced back in a huge way, taking the next three sets to win.

Sunday, Sept. 1

  • Women’s soccer got their first win of the season against Mercyhurst University, winning 2-1. Caitlin Evans scored the first goal of her season and the first of her NKU career in the 74th minute. Lydia Self added a goal of her own as she converted her penalty kick chance for what turned into the game-winning goal in the 87th minute. The Norse attempted 30 shots, which is tied for the second most in a match in NKU’s NCAA Division I history. 
  • Men’s soccer finished in a draw against University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) with a score of 1-1. The Norse didn’t back down coming out of the half losing 1-0, but in the 85th minute Wade Stinson was awarded a penalty kick. Stinson kicked it right down the middle, tying the game for the Norse– also marking his first goal of the season. Nic Lemen was huge in goal-saving seven of the eight UAB shots on goal.

 

Sports this week:

Monday, Sept. 2

  • Women’s golf is at Central Michigan’s A-Ga-Ming Invitational in Kewadin, MI.

Thursday, Sept. 5

  • Women’s soccer takes on Eastern Kentucky at home at 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 6

  • Women’s volleyball plays Missouri in their home opener in the NKU Invitational at 6 p.m.
  • Men’s cross country at Mike Baumer XC Classic in Fairborn, Ohio at 6 p.m.
  • Women’s cross country at Mike Baumer XC Classic in Fairborn, Ohio at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7

  • Women’s volleyball plays South Dakota at home in the NKU Invitational at 5 p.m.
  • Women’s triathlon goes to University of Indianapolis in Indiana for the Super Sprint 

Sunday, Sept. 8

  • Men’s golf at Marshall’s Joe Feaganes Invitational in Huntington, WV
  • Women’s volleyball plays Louisville at home in the NKU Invitational at 2 p.m.
  • Women’s soccer takes on Morehead State in Morehead, KY at 1 p.m.
  • Men’s soccer takes on Western Illinois at home at 2 p.m.

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