By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer contributor

Lauren Piening's farewell to soccer had seemingly abandoned its script. As a junior in 2000, a third-team All-America goalie, she helped lead Northern Kentucky University to the national championship game, but UC-San Diego scored with 15 seconds left to pin a heartbreaking 2-1 loss on the Norse.

Months later, Anderson grad Piening dropped out of school, citing personal reasons. Then three years passed.

"That last game was a tough memory, if that's how I was going to end my collegiate career," she said.

It wasn't. NKU soccer coach Bob Sheehan spotted her in a scrimmage a year ago and asked if she'd consider coming back for her last season. Piening, who was busy making ends meet but planned to finish her sports management degree eventually, had figured wrongly that her chance to exhaust her eligibility had passed.

Ecstatic about a second chance, she returned to school and has played every minute this fall for the Norse. Junior Sam Westerling, the incumbent in goal, graciously moved to a midfielder spot and has started every game there.

With nine newcomers on the 18-player roster, the Norse (9-3) struggled early before winning six of their past seven. Piening has eight shutouts and a 0.49 goals-against average.

"If I wasn't able to come back, there'd have been a 'what if' for me," Piening said. "It's nice this chapter is finally being completed, along with my education."

NKU WOMEN'S GOLF: The Norse rallied from a seven-stroke deficit to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship Monday, edging Southern Indiana in a one-hole playoff by a stroke.

NKU had four of the top five finishers, with Bianca Hutton, Kim Keyer-Scott and Michelle Bellish all tying for second with a two-day total of 153. Alicia Lawrence placed fifth with a 154 and earned GLVC freshman of the year honors. NKU's Daryl Landrum is the league's coach of the year.

NKU VOLLEYBALL: Kristin Koralewski recorded her 1,000th career dig last Saturday, becoming the sixth player in school history to total 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Entering Friday, Koralewski had career totals of 1,217 kills and 1,019 digs.

NKU MEN'S SOCCER: Freshman Chris Thompson (Elder) earned co-GLVC player of the week honors, scoring three goals last week.

TMC FOOTBALL: Freshman Kyle James (Highlands) set two school records last Saturday in an overtime victory at Huntingdon (Ala.), earning co-player of the week honors from Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette.

James recorded the school's longest kickoff return, a 96-yarder for a touchdown, and set a single-game return record with 174 yards on five kickoff returns.

TMC VOLLEYBALL: Senior Amanda Matracia (Scott) set a school record for career solo blocks last weekend in the Mount St. Joseph Fall Classic, passing the mark of 112 held by Mary Jo Prickel (1990-93).

This weekly notebook spotlights NKU and Thomas More sports.