HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Junior midfielder
Maddy Murphy recorded a brace in the second half to lift the EKU women's soccer program to a 3-1 victory over Northern Kentucky on Thursday night at the NKU Soccer Stadium.
With the win, EKU head women's soccer coach
Matt Cosinuke moves to second in program history in wins. He needs 14 more wins to reach first.
EKU (2-3-1) scored three second half goals, powered by Murphy who recorded the first multi-goal game of her career and became the 19th player in program history to achieve the feat. Freshman forward
Ella Grode scored the game-winner in 45th minute, the second goal of her young career.
Murphy, Grode, and
Ana Manning each tallied two shots apiece to combine for six of EKU's seven shots on the night. Goalkeeper
Marah Krick gets the win in net going the full 90-minute distance with five saves on 14 shots faced.
Krick is now tied for fourth in program history in goalkeeper wins (10).
EKU and Northern Kentucky (1-5) got off to a slow start in the first half, combining for 10 shots, four on goal that played to a nil-nil result at halftime.
Out of the break, Grode got the Colonels on the board in the 45th minute with her second goal of the season and second consecutive match with a goal. The Avon Lake, Ohio product caught a ball from Manning and used her head to find the netting.
NKU's Lilly Yordy got the Norse equalizer just six minutes later, using her opposite boot to strike a ball just shy of Krick's gloves in the lower right of the frame.
Two minutes later, Murphy scored her first goal of the night catching a through-ball from
Ella Grode and sent a missile in the upper quadrant of the goal to give EKU a 2-1 advantage.
She found her brace in the 88th minute catching another through-ball from freshman
Lauren Link and with a sliding effort, became the 19th player to score two goals in a single match in program history.
Link's assist was her first collegiate point recorded. Murphy's final goal secured the 3-1 win for EKU, the first win over the Norse since 2016.
NKU claimed the advantage in Thursday's fixture in shots (14-6), shots on goal (6-4), and corner kicks (5-1). EKU claimed the advantage in total possession (55-45) and saves (5-1).
EKU returns to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST hosting Youngstown State at the EKU Soccer Field.
Sunday's match is Pups at the Pitch, all fans are encouraged to bring their furry friend to the venue. EKU athletics is partnering with the Madison County Humane Society, who will have a booth set up with adoptable dogs on site.
