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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's soccer team defeated Lindenwood University 2-0 Saturday afternoon at DeLoache Field.
 
The RiverHawks (11-3, 9-0 MIAA) picked up their second shutout over the Lions (7-5-3, 5-3-1 MIAA) this season, and they have now won nine of their last 10 matches overall.
 
The goals for NSU were scored within a two-minute period late in the first half.
 
Freshman forward Austin Dinkel headed home his first career marker off an assist by Paul Samia to put the home team ahead in the 37th minute. NSU would double its lead two minutes later when Samia would get a goal of his own. The junior midfielder's insurance marker was assisted by freshman defender Landon Merrill and freshman midfielder Trevor Reed.  
 
The Lions held a 15-10 shot advantage that included a 10-5 edge in the second half. However, the back line stood firm and earned the team's second shutout in as many matches.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Jackson Biles (10-3) made six saves in 90 minutes and earned his sixth clean sheet of the 2014 campaign. He moved into a tie for first place on the NSU single season shutout list. Lindenwood's Andrew Hamerlinck (6-5-3) finished with two saves and took the loss in net.
 
NSU led 2-1 in corner kicks, and the battle saw a total of 36 fouls and three yellow cards.
 
The RiverHawks will next host Southern Nazarene at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at DeLoache Field.

NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH ROB CZLONKA
Opening Statement...
"It's a beautiful day to get a 2-0 shutout over a very tough team. I'm very excited to get that win."
 
On being in control of the conference but not being complacent...
"We take it one game at a time. We focused a lot on the last 48 hours about what problems we were going to be presented with playing against a team like Lindenwood. We focused on their formation, their players, their tendencies and also the aggressive style that they play with. We'll do the same thing for the next game. We've just got to take it one game at a time."
 
On the leadership of Smith and Biles with a changing lineup...
"Jackson [Biles] and Terence [Smith] have done fantastic. Today was a very special day for Jackson now that he tied the shutout record. I'm really proud of how he played. He made some tremendous saves back there. He understands, and I think our whole team understands, that it's a team effort. Terence and his stability in the back has been fantastic. We've had to move some guys around back there. Crosby [Lee] started his career here as a center back and he's moved around, but now he's back there and he's done flawlessly. Adam [Schmoker] played left back last year, he stepped in there and he's done flawlessly. Even though we've made a lot of moves we've gotten two shutouts in the last two games. Those guys are really gelling. I would also say that our team defense starts with our strikers. The pressure they've been putting on players has been great. [Juan] Peralta and Ricardo [Palomino] have been fantastic and the other guys across the midfield line have done well, too. Everybody that we used today did well."
 
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