Andy Held

WILDER, Ky. -- The Great Lakes Valley Conference men's soccer playoff race figures to be a mad scramble throughout the 2006 campaign -- and the UMR squad picked up a huge road victory Friday night that could enhance their playoff hopes as the year progresses.

Getting a pair of goals from Andy Held, the Miners claimed a 2-1 win at Northern Kentucky. The win came over an NKU team that had lost just once heading into play this weekend and keeps the Miners undefeated in GLVC play at 2-0.

The Norse got the early advantage in the game as Braden Bishop caught up to a rebound and put a shot past Mike McNamee at the 18:28 mark. However, the MIners needed only 3:20 to tie the contest up as Derek Pelate's free kick was stopped, but Held got to the rebound and scored on NKU goalkeeper Andy Ortman.

NKU outshot the Miners 8-4 in the first 45 minutes and held a 9-4 advantage after the intermission, but it was UMR that got the tiebreaking goal in the second half. Held, who scored the game-winning goal Sunday at Ashland when he headed in a cross, did it again at the 61:06 mark when he knocked in a crossing pass that caromed off the goal post but into the net to give the 2-1 lead.

McNamee was credited with two saves on the night as the Miners moved above the .500 mark for the first time this season at 4-3. UMR will conclude its road trip with a noon game (Eastern time) against Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky. The Knights (4-4, 2-3 GLVC) knocked off Missouri-St. Louis 2-1 Friday.