Box Score

A see-saw game was contested in Highland Heights, Kentucky, Sunday afternoon, in a match featuring two nationally-ranked teams. In the end, homestanding and No. 1-ranked Northern Kentucky, survived a challenge by No. 24-ranked UW-Parkside. The Norse edged the Rangers, 3-2.

Northern Kentucky was looking to attone for a 2-1 loss it suffered, at home, to Saint Joseph's just two days prior. The Rangers were looking to sweep a weekend road trip which kicked off with a victory at Bellarmine.

NKU got on the scoreboard first when Seth Eckerlin handled a loose ball and scored at 5:50.

The hard-charging Rangers came back near the end of the first half. Their first goal was initiated from the back, way back. Goalkeeper Jamie Lieberman got things started to Cyril Simmons, who found Collin Monahan for the equalizer. The score stood at 1-1 at halftime.

Parkside pounced on the Norse for another goal to open the second half. Less than 5 minutes into the period, Jon Bebeau scored, unassisted, to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage.

For Monahan, it was his second goal of the season. Bebeau notched his fifth goal of the year.

The Norse tallied the final two goals of the match, at 54:45 and 59:13 respectively.

Northern Kentucky had a dozen shots on goal. The Rangers fired six on goal.

The win gives the country's top-ranked team an 8-1-1 overall record and a 5-1-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference mark. The Rangers own a stellar 8-2-1 overall mark to go with a 4-2-1 league record.

See standings: http://www.glvcsports.org/index.aspx?tab=soccer&path=msoc

The Rangers look to return to their winning ways when they host Indianapolis Friday, Oct. 2, at 3:30 p.m. The match will mark the start of the second half of the conference season.