MOREHEAD – Something had to give.
In Sunday's Morehead State-Northern Kentucky women's soccer game at the MSU Soccer Field in Morehead, Ky., the hosts held a school-record nine-game home unbeaten streak, and the visitors held a 6-0-1 all-time series advantage.
Unfortunately for the Eagles and their supporters, it was the winning streak as NKU came out with a 1-0 victory.
Kylie Anderson scored off a pass from Lilly Yordy, which came from the left side, that Anderson ran onto and, just inside the interior goal box, tapped into the left corner of the net at the 80:23 mark to give the Norse a lead they did not relinquish.
The visitors kept the ball in the Morehead State (3-3-1) defensive zone virtually the entire second half and peppered 10 shots toward the Eagle goal, scoring on their final attempt to remain unbeaten in the series between the two clubs.
MSU used two keepers for the first time since the season opener and both freshmen
Claire Cress and
Lilly Bailey had to make several dramatic saves to maintain a clean sheet through the game's first 80 minutes. Cress got the start and played the first half finishing with two saves. Bailey entered after halftime and made four saves.
Northern Kentucky (2-5-0) won its first road contest of the year and snapped a three-game road skid.
It was just the second home game of the season for the Blue and Gold, which now stand 1-1 on its field in 2024.
Watch MSU head coach Paul Cox discuss the game.
In the opening half, Northern Kentucky held a 4-1 lead in shots and took all four corner kicks. By the day's end, it led those categories 14-5 and 6-1, respectively. MSU also had more fouls 10-8, but NKU had more offside calls 3-1. The Eagles were assessed both of the contest's yellow cards.
Sophomore forward
Hedda Ornberg had a team-best two shots, with the Eagles' best scoring chance of the afternoon coming on a ball off Ornberg's foot that hit the crossbar from 25 yards out five minutes and 52 seconds into the match.
Kaya Vogt and Lydia Self each had three shots to pace the visitors. NKU also used three goalkeepers. Megan Gessner played 30 minutes and 35 seconds, followed by Tristen Cross for 29 minutes and 14 seconds and finally Donna Bundy for the final 30 minutes and 11 seconds. All three were credited with one save apiece.
Northern Kentucky spent two-thirds of its time with the ball in the MSU defensive zone, although the Eagles did finish with an edge in possession percentage (55 to 45).
After a week break, Morehead State will return to the road to face Mercyhurst on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. Radford will come to Morehead on Thursday, Sept. 19 for a 4 p.m. tilt in the Eagles' final non-conference outing of the year. The Ohio Valley Conference season begins on Sunday, Sept. 22 with Eastern Illinois at MSU.
