TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The No. 17-ranked Northeastern State men's soccer team is set to finish off the first half of MIAA play when the team plays host to Southwest Baptist at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at DeLoache Field. The contest will be the lone outing of the week for the RiverHawks.

ABOUT NSU
Northeastern State (8-4, 2-1 MIAA) is on a four-match win streak and has won five of its last six contests. This past week NSU picked up a pair of non-conference victories over Ouachita Baptist (2-1) and Southern Nazarene (7-0). Senior forward Crosby Lee netted his first-career hat trick in the win over the Crimson Storm. Northeastern State has outscored its opponents 30-12 this season, and NSU's goals have been scored by 12 different players. Freshman midfielder Joseph Garcia leads NSU in scoring (5g-4a=14p), and sophomore midfielder Trevor Reed isn't far behind with 11 points (5g-1a). Senior goalkeeper Eric Shephard (8-4) has started all 12 matches, and he owns a 1.02 goals against average and a .797 save percentage.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Name: Southwest Baptist University
Location: Bolivar, Missouri
Conference: MIAA
Record: 0-10, 0-3 MIAA
Series History: NSU leads 4-0 (first meeting in 2012). NSU has outscored SBU 23-1 in the series
Top scorer: Garrett Gibson (7g-1a=15p)
Assist leader: Dylan Saib (0g-3a=3p)
Top goalkeeper: Lajos Zadravecz (0-10) / 3.07 GAA / .608 save percentage.
Fun facts: Garrett Gibson is second in the MIAA in goals (7) and points (15). The Bearcats are on a 47-match losing streak, which is the longest active streak in NCAA D-II, but they have three overtime losses this season and five one-goal defeats.

MOVING UP IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
NSU has ascended to a season-best national ranking of No. 17, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced Oct. 13. The RiverHawks jumped seven spots from last week's ranking and are now the highest-ranked team from the MIAA for the first time this season. Fort Hays State is ranked No. 24, while Lindenwood is receiving votes. NSU initially earned a preseason ranking of No. 21 and was issued a rank of No. 24 in the first regular-season polls. The RiverHawks dropped out for three weeks before returning to No. 24 last week.

SITTING ATOP THE REGIONAL RANKINGS
Northeastern State has now moved to the top of the NSCAA Central Region Poll for the first time this season. The RiverHawks jumped to the top spot after Upper Iowa suffered a loss and Fort Hays State and Lindenwood both recorded draws. The first NCAA Regional Rankings - which are used to determine NCAA Championship participants - will be released Oct. 21.

MIAA LEADERBOARD
Sophomore midfielder Trevor Reed is second in the MIAA in shots taken (36), fifth in points (11), tied for fourth in goals (5), and tied for first in game-winning goals (2). Freshman midfielder Joseph Garcia is third in points (14), tied for fourth in goals (5), and tied for second in assists (4). Senior defender Crosby Lee is ninth in shots (18), tied for seventh in points (9), and tied for seventh in goals (4). Senior defender Paul Samia is tied for fourth in assists (3). Senior midfielder Brenden Bombardier is also tied for fourth in assists (3). Freshman forward James Olmos is sixth in shots taken (22). Sophomore forward Justin Todd is tied for first in game-winning goals (2). Senior goalkeeper Eric Shephard is second in goals-against average (1.03), second in saves (47) tied for first in shutouts (3), and second in saves percentage (.797).

LEE BRINGS HOME HARDWARE
Senior defender Crosby Lee was named the MIAA Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week on Oct. 13. He obtained the award after scoring his first-career hat trick in just a six-minute span to help NSU beat Southern Nazarene 7-0. SNU had never conceded seven goals at home since becoming NCAA members. Lee began the season as a defender but has since been moved up top, and he is taking full advantage of his newfound goal-scoring opportunities. The award is the first of his career. NSU has boasted three different weekly award winners. Senior midfielder Brenden Bombardier collected the accolade Oct. 6, and sophomore midfielder Trevor Reed won the award once this year Sept. 8.

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-