HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Marie Weckhurst scored a goal and assisted on another to lead Jacksonville to a 2-1 victory over the Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team at the NKU Soccer Stadium on Friday night.

Jacksonville (4-4-1 overall, 1-0 in the Atlantic Sun) struck first in the 37th minute when Weckhurst took a pass from Sarah Moghadas and shot the ball past NKU goalkeeper Stephanie Glass from 10 yards out.

The Dolphins held on to the 1-0 lead until Kelsey Zwergel was able to sneak a penalty kick past Jacksonville goalie Jill D'Amico, who finished with six saves on the night, to tie the game for the Norse in the 55th minute.

Zwergel, who attempted a game-high five shots, had a chance to put the Norse ahead in the 68th minute, but D'Amico made a diving save to keep the game tied.

“Kelsey Zwergel was really active in the midfield.  We started her in the back, and then we moved her to the midfield, and she did a really nice job for us,” NKU head coach Bob Sheehan said.  “She converted on the penalty kick, and she also combined nicely and got in behind the defense (for a shot attempt) and their keeper made a great save.  That would have put it 2-1 us, but it didn't go our way.”

Jacksonville's Emily Culbreth scored the winning goal in the 78th minute. Weckhurst passed the ball to Culbreth for her first assist of the season. The Dolphins are the defending A-Sun champions.

NKU (3-6, 0-1 in the Atlantic Sun) put the pressure on the Jacksonville defense early, having collected four shots in just over 10 minutes and held a slight 9-8 edge in shots in the first half.  Jacksonville, however, finished the match with an 18-13 advantage.

The Norse won the corner kick battle by a 7-3 margin, including two from Zwergel in which NKU was unable to create shot opportunities in the final 10 minutes.

Glass collected 10 saves for the Norse.  She now has 21 saves on the season.

Friday's action marked the start of NKU's first conference schedule as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference as it transitions to NCAA Division I status.

NKU returns to action against North Florida on Sunday afternoon at the NKU Soccer Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

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