Courtesy of NKUNorse.com
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Freshman goalkeeper Owen Betz earned his second shutout in just four appearances this season, picking up a trio of saves as the Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team battled Cleveland State to a scoreless draw at NKU Soccer Stadium on Saturday.
“We are getting a little more consistency in our play and that’s the one thing I’m looking for is that competitive edge. We still make mistakes and give balls away but it’s a process for our players,” said head coach John Basalyga. “Their attitudes have been great and that’s all I can ask for.”
Between the Posts
Betz picked up three saves in his full 110 minutes of play.
The freshman was key in breaking up the Cleveland State (4-6-2, 2-1-2 Horizon) attack, jumping out of goal to gather CSU serves across the box throughout the match.
Northern Kentucky (0-10-3, 0-4-1 Horizon) kept the Vikings’ Sebastian Kalk busy, as he made seven saves and was aided by one team save.
First Half Summary
Cleveland State held an 8-4 edge in shot attempts but the Norse led in shots on goal, 2-0, after the first period.
NKU’s four shots were split among four different players, with on-target attempts from Tucker Monheimer and Kobie Qualah.
Second Half Summary
The teams continued to wage a back-and-forth battle in the second half with NKU narrowly out-shooting the Vikings, 6-5, with five of NKU’s six shots coming on goal.
NKU unleashed an offensive onslaught in the 84th minute with Qualah firing a pair of back-to-back shots. Kalk dove for the first save, which he deflected back to Qualah. On the second attempt, a CSU defender stepped in goal to make the save and keep it scoreless.
Monheimer followed up with a third successive shot booted from 30 yards out, saved once again by Kalk.
Overtime Summary
In the second overtime period, Betz dove forward out of the five-yard box to gather a cross sent just in front of the goal by CSU to preserve the shutout.
CSU posted one shot in both the first and second period, neither of which were on goal.
Meanwhile, NKU managed one shot, on goal, off the foot of Campbell Morris.
Norse Notes
Betz improved his team-leading goals-against average to 1.39 and has made a team-high 20 saves in just 387:18 minutes of action this season.
NKU ended the game out-shooting the Vikings 8-3 on goal while CSU held the advantage in overall shot attempts, 15-11.
Qualah and Monheimer posted 1.000 shot on goal percentages with Qualah firing a team-high three shots – all on target – to Monheimer’s two shots on goal.
Up Next
The Norse return to action when they travel to take on League foe Belmont on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff in Nashville is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
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