TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's soccer team will host two matches this weekend as it opens the MIAA portion of its schedule. The RiverHawks will take on Northwest Missouri State at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25. The team then faces Missouri Western State at 1 p.m. on Sept. 27. Both matches will be played at DeLoache Field.
 
ABOUT NSU
The RiverHawks have gotten off to a strong start so far this season. The team is 5-1-0, with its lone loss coming on the road to rival Central Oklahoma in non-conference play (1-0). NSU has won both of its home matches and has outscored its opponents by a total margin of 24-2 this season. The RiverHawks scored just 20 goals in 2014. Junior forward Anastasia Robinson has been the team's biggest scoring threat with four goals and three assists. Sophomore midfielder Julia Mathis leads the team in assists with four. The ball has been shared a lot, as NSU has already tied the school record with 12 different goal scorers this season. Junior goalkeeper Jordan Woodruff (5-1) has only allowed one goal through six matches and her goals-against average is 0.20. She also has a .929 saves percentage and two shutouts.

THE SERIES
Northeastern State and Northwest Missouri State have met four times since the RiverHawks joined the MIAA in 2012. The two programs each have a pair of victories on their home grounds in the series. NWMSU earned a 3-0 victory in Maryville during the 2012 regular season, but the RiverHawks collected a 2-1 victory in Tahlequah later that year in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Championship. NSU also won at home in 2013 (1-0) and lost at NWMSU in double overtime last season (1-0).

Northeastern State has won all three meetings against Missouri Western State since 2012, including a pair of 1-0 victories on both grounds over the past two years. NSU began the series with a 3-1 triumph over the Griffons in 2012.
 
SCOUTING NWMSU
Northwest Missouri State is located in Maryville, Missouri, and the Bearcats are an MIAA conference opponent of NSU's. The Bearcats through five matches this season are 1-2-2. Their lone win came against Sioux Falls, and they also have draws with Minnesota-Crookston (1-1) and Wayne State (1-1). The team owns a 6-1 loss to Central Missouri and a 4-0 loss to Bemidji State. NWMSU has only scored four goals this year, while conceding 12. All four goals have come from different players. The Bearcats have only been able to muster 26 shots on goal. Ashley Malloy (1-2-2) has played every minute in goal for Northwest Missouri State. She owns a 2.20 goals-against average and a .765 saves percentage. She also has one clean sheet.
 
SCOUTING MWSU
Missouri Western State is located in St. Joseph, Missouri, and is another team out of the MIAA. The Griffins are 4-1 this season, and have won two consecutive matches after falling in double overtime to Bemidji State (1-0). MWSU has defeated Lindenwood (2-1), Minnesota-Crookston (10-), Harding (2-1) and East Central (3-1). The Griffons have outscored their opponents 8-4 this season. They will face Central Oklahoma on Sept. 25 prior to traveling to Tahlequah. Bridgett Blessie leads the team in goals scored with two. Layne Shepherd leads the team in assists with two. Sarah Lyle (4-1) has been very effective in goal and boasts a 0.77 goals-against average to go along with a .852 saves percentage. Lyle has made 23 saves through five matches.