Box Score Game Box (PDF)
Highland Heights, Ky. – Northern Kentucky scored four goals in the second half and despite a goal from Spartan Mollie Waters, went on to take a 6-1 victory over USC Upstate Friday night in A-Sun women's soccer action.
With the loss, Upstate was eliminated from battling for a spot in the A-Sun Tournament. The Spartans will close out their season Sunday afternoon at Lipscomb.
Northern Kentucky pressed early, taking a shot in the first minute. The Norse continued to press and opened a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute on a goal by Allison Ponzer. Sami Rutowski started things off, playing a long ball to Ponzer who placed a shot past Upstate keeper Sarah Pantz.
After NKU took four more shots over the next 20 minutes, the Norse took a 2-0 lead in the 25th minute. Ponzer was involved in the goal again, but this time dishing out the assist. Ponzer played a back heel pass to Megan Frye in the box and Frye put the ball into the net.
After being held without a shot for most of the half, Upstate began to make some things happen offensively as the intermission drew near. The Spartans took two shots in the final 5:30 of the half, but Haley Gethin's shot was blocked by an NKU defender and Rachel Carr's shot was saved by Norse keeper by Tanner Ruberg.
NKU went in halftime holding a 2-0 lead. The Norse held a 13-2 advantage in shots. Plantz made six saves of the eight shots placed on goal.
NKU put the match out of reach within the first 10 minutes of the second half, opening a 4-0 lead by the 55th minute. Katelyn Newton scored an unassisted goal 38 seconds into the half and assisted, along with Frye, on Casey McMillan's goal in the 55th minute. The Norse made it a 5-0 lead on an Upstate own goal in the 62nd minute and CG Bryant's goal in the 68th minute on an assist by Aubrey Muench gave the Norse a 6-0 advantage.
Upstate continued to battle and broke through with a goal in the 81st minute. Rebecca Sanzsole played a cross into the box where Waters put the header away to cut the NKU lead to 6-1 in the 81st minute. It was Waters' second goal of the season.
Northern Kentucky finished the game with a 27-5 lead in shots. Plantz finished the match with 11 saves. It marked the fourth time this season she has reached double figures in saves, matching two other times she has notched 11 in a game. She recorded a season-high 15 saves at Florida Gulf Coast on Oct. 13.
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