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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The No. 14-ranked Northeastern State men's soccer team defeated Southwest Baptist 5-0 Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at DeLoache Field.
 
The RiverHawks (14-3-1, 11-0-1 MIAA) closed out the regular season unbeaten in MIAA play. They also honored the four graduating seniors at halftime of the contest, which were forward Juan Peralta, defender Adam Schmoker, midfielder Jordan Schmoker and defender Terence Smith.
 
Freshman forward Ricardo Palomino started the scoring in the 17th minute on a long through-ball from Adam Schmoker that was tipped by Peralta. Palomino has now scored in three of his last four matches, and he also had a pair of assists to register a season-best four points.
 
Peralta scored back-to-back goals with his head in the 23rd and 29th minutes. The first began in the center of the park when Palomino pulled down a deflection. He sent a ball to the right wing where junior midfielder Paul Samia was waiting. Samia took one touch and served the ball into the box that Peralta headed far post after out-jumping a defender.
 
His second goal came from the left side, but it again began centrally. Adam Schmoker sent a pass to the left wing that was immediately served into the box by Palomino. Peralta raced around a defender on the far post and dove to head the ball into the back of the net.
 
Schmoker tied his career high with four points after sneaking a ball past the keeper in the 35th minute from junior midfielder Brenden Bombardier.
 
Sophomore midfielder Jonathan Guzman added a fifth goal in the 49th minute that was assisted by Jordan Schmoker and junior defender Chance Miller. Miller sent a long cross from the right to the far left post. Schmoker one-touched it to the top of the box, and Guzman quickly shot low to the right before the defense had time to react. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
 
NSU outshot the Bearcats (0-18, 0-12 MIAA) by a 32-2 margin and held a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Jackson Biles (13-3-1) was not forced to make a save in his eighth shutout of the season, but he was able to extend his own school record for most clean sheets in a single campaign. He also now has 10 shutouts in his career and is one shy of tying that school record.
 
Jordan Schmoker now has an NCAA-best 13 assists this year.
 
Northeastern State, the No. 1 seed in the MIAA Championship tournament, will face No. 4 Upper Iowa in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in Olathe, Kansas.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH ROB CZLONKA
Opening Statement…
"This was a great day for Senior Day. The weather really cleared up for us. There was a little breeze, and it was sunny and clear. Our guys performed well. We started off getting some goals by Juan Peralta and Adam (Schmoker). I'm really proud with how our guys played. We showed why we are the MIAA regular season champs."
 
On Jackson Biles earning his eighth shutout of the season…
"That's fantastic for him. It's also great for Terence (Smith), Crosby (Lee), Adam (Schmoker) and Chance (Miller). Julius (James) and Landon (Merill) also got some time in defense today. They all did a great job managing the backline and managing the space in front of them. I love shutouts. Every year we talk about how a good team is one that can get shutouts when they need it, and we needed one today."
 
On facing Upper Iowa in the MIAA Championship semifinals next week…
"We just have to play smart, RiverHawks soccer. Upper Iowa is an organized group, and they have a lot of talent. They're a good, hard-working, blue-collar team. We need to make sure that we are up to the task of out-working them. They're going to throw everything they have at us, that much we know for sure."
 
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