ADA, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's soccer team defeated East Central 3-0 Friday afternoon at Tiger Field.
 
The RiverHawks improved to 4-0 on the season and gave head coach Chase Wooten the 100th victory of his career. The win also wrapped up a perfect non-conference slate that saw the green and white outscore opponents 19-0. This was the second time in three years that NSU went undefeated in the non-conference portion of its schedule.
 
An own goal in the 19th minute kicked off the scoring and would prove to be the eventual game-winner.
 
Sophomore midfielder Alexis Carson tallied her first-career goal at the stroke of halftime, and sophomore forward Morgan Kent potted her third of the campaign in the 73rd minute.
 
Sophomore midfielder Julia Mathis helped on Kent's goal, giving her a team-best four assists this season. Carson became NSU's 11th different goal scorer in 2015. The RiverHawks had just nine different goal scorers all of last season, and they are also already just one goal shy of last year's total for the whole year.
 
NSU outshot ECU 20-2 and led in shots on frame 13-0. This marked the third time through the first four matches this season that the RiverHawks did not concede a shot on target. They also led 8-1 in corner kicks.
 
Junior goalkeeper Jordan Woodruff (4-0) was not forced to make a save in collecting her second clean sheet of the campaign. She added to her own school records with her 27th career victory and her 16th career shutout.
 
Chloe Hall made 10 saves and conceded the three goals for East Central (0-4). All four opposing goalkeepers NSU has faced this season have been forced to make double-digit saves.
 
Northeastern State will take its undefeated record into MIAA play, beginning with a 4 p.m. match Sept. 17 against Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma.
 
Scoring Summary
NSU                 2          1          –          3
ECU                 0          0          –          0
 
Individual Scoring
Own Goal (NSU) at 18:16 (unassisted)
Alexis Carson (NSU) at 44:52 (unassisted)
Morgan Kent (NSU) at 72:19 (Julia Mathis)
 
Goalkeeper Saves
Jordan Woodruff (NSU) – 0
Chloe Hull (ECU) – 10
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH CHASE WOOTEN
Opening statement…
"Early on in the season I think we dodged some things. We weren't playing great as a team. I'm not saying we're there yet, but we have made some good progress in the four non-conference matches. We ball-won so much better these past two matches. If we go in and compete for the first ball, then we have a chance. When we're sloppy in that area, then we create a lot of problems for ourselves. I'm pleased with that. We've also done a better job adjusting to each opponent. So are we ready to play a top-25 team and not concede a shot? Not a chance, but I do think the ember is there to say that we can turn around and really burn with some fuel to not concede a ton of shots. Winning today was nice, but it's just one more step in the process. At the end of the day, we've only accomplished four steps of the 18-game process. We still have another 14 games left, and I want to be able to look back and say that we used these first four matches to build success in MIAA play."
 
On the windy conditions…
"The wind definitely had an effect on us today. But I'm sure it affected them, too. Neither team really had the benefit of the wind because it was always coming across. We misjudged some crosses early in the match where players hadn't adjusted yet. Overall we adjusted well and we competed well. It's difficult to go into somebody else's house and win. We've been able to do that two matches in a row now, and we've looked OK doing it."
 
On having 11 different goal scorers so far this season…
"In our system you're going to have some diversity in who scores the goals. Alexis (Carson's) goal could not have been more timely because we missed a breakaway 10 seconds before that. That had the chance to set a bad tone going into halftime. Alexis' timing was great. She's really played great for us so far this year. She came in and had to earn every minute she's received. She's a new face after not seeing her for two years, and she's motivated and working really hard. We're thrilled with her having that result."
 
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