HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.- The Northern Kentucky University men' soccer team (6-4-3, 3-1-3 Horizon League) battled Valparaiso (6-3-4, 2-1-1 Horizon League) to a 0-0 draw in a League tilt on Saturday.

"We had a full week to regroup and put more conviction into our play," NKU head coach John Basalyga said. "Valpo had their chances and we had our chances. A.J. Fleak came up really big for us in goal. Overall, we did a much better job than in our previous game."

In the opening frame, Northern Kentucky took eight shots to Valparaiso's five, with each team posting a shot on goal. Both teams each took three corner kicks in the half.

In the second half, Valparaiso picked up the pace on offense, but A.J. Fleak and the Norse defense held tight. Fleak faced nine shots by the Crusaders, with the senior recording five saves. Two of those saves came in dramatic fashion with Fleak diving to save a shot by Valpo's Ramone Howell in the 73^rd minute. Five seconds later Fleak made another circus save off a shot by Okama Thompson.

Moving to overtime, it was Fleak again making a save in the early going off a shot by Howell to keep the Norse alive. In double-overtime, Diego Martinez took Nothern Kentucky's lone shot, missing wide right with Valpo taking two shots, both missing the mark.

NKU finished the match taking 14 shots with three on goal and seven corner kicks while Fleak (5-4-2) recorded his fifth clean sheet of the season, hauling in seven saves in 110 minutes of work. Valpo finished the match taking 18 shots with seven on goal while Nico Campbell (6-3-4) recorded one save.

Northern Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday hitting the road at Eastern Illinois for a nonconference match set for 4 p.m. For more information on the Northern Kentucky University men's soccer program, please visit NKUNorse.com. You can also get updates on the Norse throughout the season by following @NKUNorseMSOC on Twitter and Facebook.

Norse Notes

• Senior goalkeeper A.J. Fleak now has 15 shutouts for his career as a Norse.
• This was Northern Kentucky's sixth overtime match of the season. The Norse are 1-2-3 in those matches.