TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's soccer team is set to close out the regular season with a road match against Southwest Baptist. The RiverHawks and Bearcats will meet at 3 p.m. Nov. 5 in Bolivar, Missouri.

ABOUT NSU
The RiverHawks (11-6, 4-3 MIAA) are coming off back-to-back victories, which included the most lopsided triumph in program history. NSU broke the school record for most goals in a match in a 15-0 win over Southern Nazarene. Senior forward Crosby Lee and sophomore midfielder Trevor Reed both netted hat tricks. Northeastern State set numerous school and MIAA records in the contest. Three days later NSU earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over then-No. 20 Fort Hays State. The RiverHawks battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to save their season after a header goal from Reed and two late penalty kicks from junior midfielder Jonathan Guzman. Lee (9g-2a) and redshirt freshman midfielder Joseph Garcia (6g-8a) lead NSU in scoring with 20 points each. Reed is one point back at 19 (9g-1a). Senior goalkeeper Eric Shephard (10-6-0) has started all 17 matches in goal. He owns a 1.07 goals-against average, a .804 saves percentage and five shutouts.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIOS
The top four teams in the MIAA all still have a shot at the conference championship heading into the final week of action. The only path to the MIAA crown for the RiverHawks would be for all three of the following scenarios to occur: 1. NSU defeats Southwest Baptist, 2. Fort Hays State defeats Upper Iowa and 3. Fort Hays State and Lindenwood draw. In that scenario, Northeastern State and UIU would tie for the league title with 15 points, while FHSU and LWU would finish in a tie for third at 14 points. NSU currently sits in third place in the MIAA with 12 points. It is one point behind second place Lindenwood, and three points behind first place Upper Iowa.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Name: Southwest Baptist University
Location: Bolivar, Missouri
Conference: MIAA
Record: 0-16 (0-7 MIAA)
Series History: NSU leads 5-0 (first meeting was in 2012). NSU has outscored SBU 28-1 over that span
Top scorer: Garrett Gibson (7g-1a=15p)
Assist leader: Dylan Saib (0g-3a=3p)
Top goalkeeper: Lajos Zadravecz (0-16) / 3.24 goals-against average / .602 saves percentage
Fun facts: Garrett Gibson is fifth in the MIAA in goals (7) and sixth in points (15). The Bearcats are on a 53-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.
 
MIAA LEADERBOARD
Trevor Reed: 1st in shots (50), T-2 in goals (9), T-1 in game winning goals (2), T-4 in points (19)
Joseph Garcia: 2nd in assists (8), T-2 in points (20), 6th in goals (6)
Crosby Lee: T-2 in goals (9), T-2 in points (20), T-8 in shots (30)
Josue Morales: T-4 in assists (5), 8th in points (13)
Brenden Bombardier: T-6 in assists (4)
Chance Miller: T-6 in assists (4)
James Olmos: T-8 in shots (30)
Justin Todd: T-2 in game winning goals (2)
Eric Shephard: T-1 in shutouts (5), T-1 in saves (74), 2nd in saves percentage (.804), 2nd in goals-against average (1.089)

TEAM HIGHS NATIONALLY (top 25)
T-4 in total goals (55)
6th in goals per game (3.24)
8th in shots per game (19.29)
8th in total points (148)
9th in shots on goal per game (9.24)
T-12 in total assists (38)
16th in assists per game (2.24)
20th in save percentage (.804)

RIVERHAWKS STILL RECEIVING VOTES IN THE NATIONAL POLL
After receiving one vote to be ranked in the national polls last week, this week the RiverHawks received six. NSU received the fourth most votes of the teams sitting outside the rankings. Northeastern State received six votes in the most-recent national rankings, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced Nov. 3. The RiverHawks are receiving the fourth-most votes of the teams sitting outside of the top 25 ranked teams. Fort Hays State and Upper Iowa switched places in the rankings from last week, with FHSU dropping to 25th and UIU moving up to 20th. 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 a month ago. NSU was ranked a season-best No. 15 for one week before dropping out last week.

REED NABS MIAA HONORS FOR SECOND TIME
Trevor Reed was named the MIAA Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week on Nov. 3. The sophomore midfielder scored four goals this past week, including his first career hat trick in NSU's 15-0 win over Southern Nazarene. Reed also scored on a crucial header to tie the Fort Hays State match before NSU went on to win 3-2. Reed is tied for second in the MIAA with nine goals. This was his second time earning the award this season, as he was also honored on Sept. 8. Of the nine MIAA athlete of the week honors handed out this season, the RiverHawks have collected five of them. Brenden Bombardier won the award on Oct. 6, and Crosby Lee was bestowed the honor in back-to-back weeks (Oct. 13, Oct. 20).

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-