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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's soccer team defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State 4-0 on Military Appreciation Night Thursday at DeLoache Field.

The RiverHawks (5-0) struck early and often as senior forward Jennifer Clark notched a natural hat trick (three successive goals) before the 13-minute mark. Senior midfielder Elizabeth
Cudjoe added a fourth marker in the 60th minute and the backline held strong.

Clark's first goal came in the third minute when she fired to the left post from 10 yards out after the defender lost possession.

Clark received a ball on a corner kick from sophomore midfielder McKenzie Musella in the eighth minute. Clark headed the initial shot off the keeper, then chested the rebound off the crossbar into the back of the net.

Clark finished off her first-career hat trick after senior midfielder Kelsey Sheldon sent a pass through the Rangers' defense that freed up space.

The second half saw back and forth play until the 60th minute when Sheldon passed the ball through to senior midfielder Elizabeth Cudjoe who beat NWOSU's final defender.

"After being on the road in Abilene, Texas, and having trouble closing out the game there it was really important for us to get in here and score some goals," NSU Coach Chase Wooten said. "To get them going and put the other team on their heels allowed us to get some fresh legs in there and make them continue to chase the game."

Freshman goalkeeper Jordan Woodruff saw 78:02 minutes of play making one save and allowing no goals. Senior Maggie Kloza finished the match in her first action of the season. She allowed no goals and made no saves.

"Overall, we got what we wanted which was a good win," Wooten said. "We got to see some younger kids play which is good for their development and it puts us in a good place going into Sunday's Missouri Southern game."

Northeastern State outshot Northwestern Oklahoma State 44-4 and also had the advantage 8-0 in corner kicks.

The RiverHawks are set to open conference play play on the road at Missouri Southern State at 1 p.m. Sept. 22 in Joplin, Mo., at Hal Bodon Field.

Scoring Summary
NSU                3          1          -           4
NWOSU          0          0          -           0
 
Indivdual Scoring
Jennifer Clark (NSU) at 2:10 (unassisted)
Jennifer Clark (NSU) at 7:56 (McKenzie Musella)
Jennifer Clark (NSU) at 12:51 (Kelsey Sheldon)
Elizabeth Cudjoe (NSU) at 59:26 (Kelsey Sheldon)
 
Goalkeeper Saves
Briana Legaspi (NWOSU) – 16
Jordan Woodruff (NSU) – 1
Maggie Kloza (NSU) – 0
 
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