MATCH NOTES

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The No. 21-ranked Northeastern State men's soccer team is set to open the home portion of the 2012 schedule when the RiverHawks welcome Harding University (2-2) to DeLoache Field. The match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start Sept. 15, and it will be the first MIAA game for the men's soccer team in school history.
 
SCOUTING THE BISONS
Harding is 2-2 this season, scoring victories over William Baptist College (2-1) and Ouachita Baptist (2-0). The team has lost to John Brown University (2-1) and Lyon College (4-0). The loss to Lyon on Sept. 12 was the first time the Bisons were shutout in 10 contests. HU has scored five goals this season, all coming from different members of the team. Shea McGee (1g-1a=3p) and Ryan Wilhelm (1g-1a=3p) lead the team in scoring, while Chase Keeney (2-2, 1.30 GAA, .667 S%) is the top goalkeeper.
 
NSU SPLITS PAIR IN HAYS
Northeastern State went to Hays, Kan., and split a pair of matches with Colorado Mesa and Sioux Falls. The RiverHawks fell behind 2-0 to the Mavericks on Sept. 7 before storming back with goals in the 84th and 88th minutes. CMU was able to score the golden goal, however, with 33 seconds remaining in the first overtime session. Senior midfielder Bo White recorded his first-collegiate hat trick to lead NSU to a 4-1 victory over Sioux Falls Sept. 9.
 
RIVERHAWKS LAND AT NO. 21 IN NATIONAL POLLS
Northeastern State received a national rank of No. 21 in the latest 2012 NSCAA/Continental Tire Polls released Sept. 11. The RiverHawks are the second-highest ranked team in the MIAA, sitting 10 spots behind No. 11 Fort Hays State. Northeastern State was ranked on three different occasions last year, reaching a season-best mark of No. 14 on Sept. 13. NSU was also ranked No. 15 (Oct. 4) and No. 19 (Sept. 27).
 
WHITE NABS MIAA ATHLETE OF WEEK ACCOLADES
Bo White was named the MIAA Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week Sept. 11. The senior midfielder from Durant, Okla., notched his first-career hat trick in NSU's 4-1 victory over Sioux Falls on Sept. 9. He also scored the game-tying goal against Colorado Mesa in the 88th minute to force overtime on Sept. 7.
 
LADBROOKE EARNS FIRST WEEKLY HONOR IN 14 YEARS
Senior goalkeeper Jordan Ladbrooke was named the MIAA Men's Soccer Player of the Week Sept. 4 after he helped lead the RiverHawks to a 2-0 start to the season. Ladbrooke is the first men's soccer player to earn a weekly accolade from the MIAA in 14 years, as the conference has not sponsored the sport since 1998. Ladbrooke also became the first student-athlete from Northeastern State to earn player of the week honors from the MIAA, as the school is currently in its first season as members of the league.
 
RIVERHAWKS TABBED SECOND IN CENTRAL REGION
The top two teams from each of the eight regions earn automatic bids into the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship at the end of the season. Northeastern State currently sits at No. 2 in the Central Region in the latest polls released by the NSCAA Sept. 21. NSU was in the South Central Region last year before realignment, and the team ended the season ranked No. 8.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE OPENS 2012 WITH 2 CLEAN SHEETS
The NSU men's soccer team was the only members of the MIAA to post two shutouts in the first weekend of the season. The RiverHawks took down the University of Missouri-St. Louis 2-0 Aug. 30 before blanking Maryville University 1-0 Sept. 2. Senior goalkeeper Jordan Ladbrooke earned the clean sheet in the second contest, while he and freshman keeper Eric Shepard split duties in the first match. Sophomore forward Juan Peralta scored the game-winning goal against UMSL, and senior midfielder Henry Wildenborg scored the lone marker of the match against MU in the 86th minute.
 
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