TAHLEQUAH – After three years of heartache, Northeastern State blasted their way in the MIAA Semifinals with a 4-0 blowout over Newman on Friday evening at DeLoache Field.   

The RiverHawks (14-4-1) have qualified for the MIAA Tournament for eight consecutive seasons but has not made it past the opening round since their final's appearance in 2015.  NSU's road to the championship started with Newman, a team they wrapped up the regular season with five days ago in Tahlequah.

Northeastern State quickly got help in the third minute with Newman (7-6-6) inadvertently scoring on their own goal.  NSU added a second in the 26th minute when Mariah Nicolet passed to Sarah Rector, who put the ball in the lower-right corner of the net.

In the second half, the RiverHawks needed just six minutes to add a third, as Paulina Chavez scored an unassisted goal in the 51st minute to extend the lead to 3-0. Just five minutes later, Paige Lorenzo beat the keeper off a penalty kick to make it a four-goal lead for the RiverHawks. 

Ainsley Cunningham picked up her third shutout of the season without having to make any saves, as the Jets mustered only one shot, which sailed over the top of the net in the second half.  Sommer Franks had three shots on goal for the RiverHawks, while Chavez had two. 

The RiverHawks will face the No. 3 seed Emporia State on Friday, Nov. 15 with time that will be determined over the weekend. The match will be played in Warrensburg with Central Missouri hosting the remainder of the tournament.