TAHLEQUAH – Paulina Chavez kicked in the go-ahead goal for the RiverHawks in the 83rd minute to complete a second half rally to best Northwest Missouri 2-1 on Friday night.
 
Both of Northeastern State's goals came in the final third of the contest and they trailed at home for the first time this season following a Bearcat goal in the fourth minute.   
 
Melissa Giles put the RiverHawks on the scoreboard in the 64th minute following a Northwest handball.  The NSU senior kicked the ball in from 15 yards out for her fourth goal of the season. 
 
Chavez broke through the Bearcat defense 20 minutes later and worked around their keeper to find the open net to put NSU up 2-1. 
 
In the closing minutes, nearly picked up their third goal on a penalty kick with five minutes remaining, and Emily Seiler bounced the ball that rattled the top crossbar a minute later.
 
Friday's contest was a tail of two-halves for the RiverHawks with the Bearcats on the attack and holding a 6-to-5 edge on shots in the first half.  Out of the intermission, Northeastern State did not allow a single shot by Northwest in the final 40 minutes to play, and held a 14-to-7 shot advantage over the Bearcats.
 
Meg Smith had three saves for the RiverHawks in the win where they will climb to 11-1 (5-1 MIAA), the loss for the Bearcats will send them to 5-7 (2-4 MIAA)
 
The RiverHawks will return the field on Sunday to host Missouri Western State at 2:30 p.m. in MIAA play.