Northern Kentucky women’s soccer hosted the defending Horizon League champions Milwaukee University Thursday for the opening night of Horizon League play and Pups at the Pitch night.
PetSuites visited Scudamore Field again this week to present another night of Pups at the Pitch. Pups at the Pitch allowed fans to bring in their dogs and receive a frisbee and a bag full of treats for their pups, courtesy of PetSuites.
The match started with Milwaukee dominating possession, and the Panthers would keep control for the rest of the night. The Panthers would take 11 shots in the first half compared to the Norse’s three, and the Panthers would miss seven corner kicks to the Norse’s one. But thanks to two saves by the Norse’s goal keeper Donna Bundy, both teams would head into halftime scoreless.
The second half started with the Norse’s offense showing signs of life. They had four shots in the first four minutes, two by Sofia Wilmes and two by Lilly Yordy, who led the team in shots with five. The Panthers’ defense would take over and only allow the Norse to take one more shot for the remainder of the night.
Something lit a spark in the Panthers’ offense and they finally got out of their scoring rut. The Norse could no longer contain their dominating offense, and in the 59th minute, Lainey Higgins was finally able to find the net for the Panthers, her fifth of the season, with a goal assisted by Kristina Karlof.
The Panthers didn’t stop there, as three minutes later a corner kick by Milwaukee led Molly O’Regan to score the Panthers’ second goal of the night in the 63rd minute, assisted by Senya Meurer. The Norse were now down two and the Panthers’ defense would keep them from making a comeback, by not allowing another shot to be taken, giving the Panthers goal keeper Parker Donahugh a three-save shutout.
The Panthers would win the match 2-0 to win their second match of the season, and the Norse would fall to 3-6 on the season.
Women’s soccer will host Green Bay on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m., where the Norse look to bounce back and get their first Horizon League win of the season.