TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State played its third double-overtime match of the spring in the MIAA Championship Semifinal matchup with Missouri Western Thursday night. The game resulted in a 3-3 tie with the Griffons advancing on a 2-1 PK shootout.
 
NSU rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final six minutes of regulation and nearly found the golden goal in the second extra period.
 
The RiverHawks scored in the 2nd minute for the second-straight game. Livy Wagner drove from 30 yards out before sneaking a pass to Callie Rucker who fired a right-footed shot into the top right of the net.
 
Shots were nearly even in the first half with the Griffons leading 5-4 on net. The RiverHawks led with two corner kicks.
 
Missouri Western (8-2-1) evened the score at 1-1 in the 47th minute.
 
The Griffons took the lead in 67th minute following a one-on-one drive that left a trailer open for a shot just past the NSU keeper.
 
Less than a minute later Missouri Western found the back of the net again to take a two-goal lead.
 
Livy Wagner was fouled forcing a Missouri Western red card in the 85th minute. On a corner kick just 15 ticks later, she took a rebound and put it home to bring the margin to one tally.
 
In the 89th minute, a streaking Hannah Stettler got a pass from Paulina Chavez and powered it to the back of the net to knot the score.
 
The RiverHawks had six shots on goal in the second half, but overtime was needed.
 
Missouri Western's keeper made three saves in the two overtime periods to force a decisive shootout. Chavez had two chances in the 110th minute on a battle just in front of the net, but the senior couldn't quite get it through the crowd in front of the goal. Chavez had the lone tally in the shootout for the RiverHawks.
 
With the setback, the RiverHawks' four-game win streak came to a halt. NSU used a balanced attack with six players having shots on target. Myka Heimbach led with seven shots, four of which were on-goal. Melanie Rice made seven saves for the RiverHawks.
 
NSU's season ended in the semifinals and will now prepare for a fall regular season. Both Emporia State and Northeastern State decided to forego the third-place match. The RiverHawks finished the spring with a 4-3 record.
 
NOTE: Spring matches for women's soccer do not count toward career statistics or overall records.