Box Score (HTML) I
Box Score (PDF)OLATHE, Kan. – The No. 14-ranked Northeastern State men's soccer team defeated Lindenwood 2-1 Saturday afternoon at College Boulevard Activities Center to claim the 2014 MIAA Men's Soccer Championship.
The regular-season champs defeated the Lions (10-7-3) for the third time this season to become the first program at NSU to win an MIAA tournament. The RiverHawks (16-3-1) also won the regular-season championship with an 11-0-1 mark in league play.
There were winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour to the south that played a huge role in the match.
Lindenwood, the two-time defending tournament champions, used the weather in the first half to control play and take a lead. Andre Hayne scored his sixth goal of the season in the 19th minute off a pass from Alfredo Paez. The Lions outshot NSU 7-5 in the first 45 minutes and led 1-0 at the break.
The RiverHawks quickly swung the moment to their advantage once they got the wind, as it only took 4:12 after intermission to equalize. After a long punt by sophomore goalkeeper
Jackson Biles, senior forward
Juan Peralta was pulled down in the box to set up a penalty kick. Senior midfielder
Jordan Schmoker stepped up to the spot and tied the match at 1-1.
Schmoker scored again in the 67th minute on a goal that would become the game winner. Junior midfielder
Paul Samia sent a cross into the box that was deflected out by a Lindenwood defender. The ball fell to Schmoker at the top of the 18, and he settled and shot into the upper 90 on the right.
The RiverHawks fended off the Lions the rest of the way to take away the league crown.
LWU outshot NSU 16-10 and led 7-4 in corner kicks.
Biles (15-3-1) earned the victory in net by saving three shots. Lindenwood goalkeeper Andrew Hamerlinck (9-5-3) suffered the loss after allowing two goals and recording just two saves.
Schmoker now has 35 points (11g-13a) this season, which moves him into first place on the MIAA's all-time single-season points list. He is also now tied for fourth on NSU's all-time list.
Northeastern State will now await its postseason fate. The RiverHawks, who are the No. 1-ranked team in the Central Region, will learn if they have been selected to host the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional when the NCAA makes its announcement at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10.
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH ROB CZLONKAOpening Statement…"The wind definitely played a huge role today. We won the toss and wanted to have the wind at our backs in the second half. We knew that if we could get out of the first half relatively unscathed when we were facing the wind, then we would have a great chance to win the match in the second half. I thought we had some great chances to score in the first half. We had some good crosses and some near finishes that were well-defended by Lindenwood."
On the MIAA tournament…"The four teams that competed in the MIAA tournament this year were very solid teams. It was very competitive. It was a fight for us two nights ago against Upper Iowa, and it was a fight for Lindenwood against Fort Hays State. It was a good match today. I'm disappointed the wind played such a huge factor, but both teams had to deal with it."
On Jordan Schmoker…"Jordan has been fantastic all year. His movement around the box was great. He's just a really quality player. He's very quick and clever. His penalty kick was well struck. The wind was a factor in drawing that penalty. (Juan) Peralta was in behind because (
Jackson Biles) kicked it so far. The goal that Jordan scored at the top of the box was fantastic. It was one of the best goals I've seen."
On Jackson Biles…"Jackson (Biles) has been fantastic. He made a bunch of great saves today. He had a few that he had to punch out away from traffic. He has worked hard over the last couple of years to earn his starting spot, and it helps that he has such an experienced back line in front of him. Terence (Smith) is a tremendous athlete and player. Crosby (Lee) is one of our most intelligent players, and Adam (Schmoker) is one of our all-around best players. (Chance) Miller has been in and out of the lineup but is very good. Those five guys have been fabulous for us."
On preparing for NCAA regional play…"First, we are going to celebrate because this is a milestone for our program and a milestone for each one of these guys. We're just going to approach NCAA's like we approached this tournament. We talked to our guys heading in that this was our pre-postseason play. We will do our study on the team we will face once we know who it is, and we'll make sure we are sharp on our end."
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