MATCH NOTES  I  LIVE STATS

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's soccer team will travel to Hays, Kan., for two neutral-site matches this upcoming weekend at FHSU Soccer Stadium. The RiverHawks will face Colorado Mesa at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 7, and the team will then take on Sioux Falls at 11 a.m. Sept. 9.
 
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Colorado Mesa is 1-0-1 this season, with a victory over Dixie State College (1-0) and a draw with Cal State-San Bernardino (1-1). The Mavericks are currently ranked No. 10 in the South Central Region, and they are led in scoring by both Alan Hernandez (1g-0a=2p) and Marco Escobar (1g-0a=2p). Micah Conrads has played all 200 minutes in goal, and he owns a 0.45 goals against average and an .875 saves percentage. CMU is outshooting its opponents 29-12, and the team has attempted 15 corner kicks to just four for the opposition.
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
The University of Sioux Falls is 0-1 this year after falling 6-1 in its season opener to William Jewell. The lone goal was scored by Connor Shefte, and he was assisted by Juan Duque-Delgado. The Cougars were outshot 19-11 in the contest, and goalkeeper Kyle Simons played the full 90 minutes, making three saves.
 
COMING HOME
Northeastern State University is in Hays, Kan., this weekend for two neutral-site contests with Colorado Mesa and Sioux Falls. This will be four straight matches away from home for the RiverHawks to start the season, who will have their home opener at 1 p.m. Sept. 15 against Harding. NSU owns a 2-0 record this year, and the team is 1-0 on neutral grounds.
 
RIVERHAWKS VAULT INTO NATIONAL RANKS AT NO. 20
After a perfect 2-0 start to the season, Northeastern State received a national rank of No. 20 in the latest 2012 NSCAA/Continental Tire Polls released Sept. 4. The RiverHawks are the second-highest ranked team in the MIAA, sitting seven spots behind No. 13 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).
 
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. 4. 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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