TULSA, Okla. – The Northeastern State men's soccer team collected a 2-0 exhibition victory over the University of Tulsa Saturday afternoon at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.
 
The triumph came over a Golden Hurricane side that earned an NSCAA preseason ranking of No. 31 in all of NCAA Division I. TU is also coming off a season where the team captured the American Athletic Conference Championship and competed in the NCAA Division I Championship.
 
NSU got on the board in the 17th minute when freshman forward James Olmos found the back of the net following a combination play inside the 18-yard penalty box from sophomore midfielders Justin Todd and Trevor Reed.
 
Olmos then picked up an assist in the 78th minute when he sent a cross from the right side straight to the foot of a streaking Brenden Bombardier. The senior midfielder volleyed the pass straight past the keeper and was all the RiverHawks needed to put away one of the top Division I programs in the nation.
 
Senior goalkeeper Eric Shephard played the first 60 minutes in net for NSU. Sophomore Aiden Wright and freshman Ricardo Perez teamed up to finish out the contest and complete the clean sheet.
 
NSU remained unbeaten in preseason friendlies against NCAA Division I foes after earning a 0-0 draw with Missouri State on Aug. 16.
 
The RiverHawks have one more friendly before the beginning of the regular season. NSU will travel to Claremore, Oklahoma, for a 7 p.m. scrimmage Aug. 29 against Rogers State.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH ROB CZLONKA
Statement…
"We looked good from the start. The game was back and forth for most of the contest. Justin (Todd), Trevor (Reed) and James (Olmos) had a beautiful connection to score that first goal. It was a great combination, and James hit a left-footed shot to the far post. He then had a great assist to (Brenden Bombardier) late in the second half. He got the ball on the right side of the 18 and made a move to beat his defender. He hit a sharp cross that hit Brenden in full stride. (Eric) Shephard had a number of quality saves in the first half, but he made one in the second half that was fantastic. The forward got the ball at the top of the 6 and Shephard made a point-blank save. Trevor and Justin had great displays. Eric Crawford and Crosby Lee showed tremendous leadership. Julius James was incredibly impactful and Paul Samia did a great job, too. Overall, I was very pleased with how we played."

SENIOR DEFENDER AND CAPTAIN CROSBY LEE
Statement about the defensive effort...
"Everyone in the back four put in the work because we all knew what it meant to play Tulsa. No individual on the starting back line or any of the reserves that played were all-stars individually, but they were all stars as a collective unit. It took us all working together to earn this shutout."
 
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