JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northeastern State women's soccer team defeated Missouri Southern State 5-1 Saturday afternoon at Hal Bodon Field.
 
NSU got back to its winning ways after dropping its first match of the season on Thursday at Central Oklahoma. The RiverHawks improved to 5-1 overall, while the Lions fell to 2-4.
 
Northeastern State got the scoring started early and did not let up. Junior midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe put the first tally on the board in the ninth minute of play off an assist from junior midfielder Kelsey McIntyre. Freshman forward Brooklynn Barnett scored her first goal of the season right before the end of the first half to push the scoreline to 2-0. Northeastern State has yet to trail in the first half of play this season.
 
NSU picked up right where it left off in the beginning of the second half, as senior midfielder McKenzie Musella scored off an assist from Cudjoe in the 47th minute. Junior forward Anastasia Robinson added to the lead a little more than eight minutes later after with her fourth goal of the season to put the RiverHawks up 4-0. Robinson's goal was assisted by sophomore forward Melissa Giles.
 
The Lions finally responded in the 63rd minute when freshman midfielder Bailey North sunk a header, but Barnett then closed the match in the 73rd minute with her second goal of the match off an assist from junior forward McKenna Jetton.
 
RiverHawk junior goalkeeper Jordan Woodruff played 59 minutes in goal and made three saves while allowing no goals. Freshman Meg Smith saw the field for the remaining 31 minutes and made one save while allowing one goal. Northeastern State led in total shots 20-11, and it led in shots on goal 9-5. NSU also held a 9-3 lead in corner kicks.
 
Northeastern State scored 20 goals all of last season and has already put away 24 tallies in 2015 through the first six matches.
 
Next weekend the RiverHawks will open their MIAA schedule at home against Northwest Missouri State. The teams will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at DeLoache Field.
 
Scoring Summary
NSU                 2          3          –          5
MSSU              0          1          –          1
 
Individual Scoring
Jennifer Cudjoe (NSU) at 8:24 (Kelsey McIntyre)
Brooklynn Barnett (NSU) at 43:16 (unassisted)
McKenzie Musella (NSU) at 46:08 (Jennifer Cudjoe)
Anastasia Robinson (NSU) at 54:38 (Melissa Giles)
Bailey North (MSSU) at 64:01 (Brooke Ishmael)
Brooklynn Barnett (NSU) at 72:25 (McKenna Jetton)
 
Goalkeeper Saves
Jordan Woodruff (NSU) – 4
Meg Smith (NSU) – 1
Shawnee Phillips (MSSU) – 4
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-