TAHLEQUAH -- Following two preseason matches, Northeastern State opens its 43rd season of men's soccer Friday at home with Drury. The match marks the beginning of the regular season for both teams, with head coach Rob Czlonka entering his 13th season as head coach of the RiverHawks.

Northeastern State vs. Drury // September 1 at 7 p.m. // Live Coverage

History with the Panthers 
- Northeastern State is 4-7 all-time against Drury and 2-2 when facing the Panthers on DeLoache Field. The RiverHawks have won three of the last four matchups, including the previous two home contests. With the exception of the COVID-shortened 2020 season where NSU played an all-conference schedule, the RiverHawks have faced the Panthers in non-conference play every season since 2016. 

Scouting the Panthers
- The Panthers will be on their 32nd campaign as a program and went 7-3-7 last season. In three games against GAC opponents in 2022, Northeastern State was their only loss.
- Drury was picked to finish fifth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings and earned one first-place vote. 
- The Panthers return 14 lettermen from last year's team that had one regulation loss in conference play.

Fast Facts
- Northeastern State's 2-1 victory over Drury marked the first time in program history that the RiverHawks have defeated the Panthers in consecutive seasons. 
- The defense has come through in big moments for Northeastern State against Drury in recent years, as the Panthers have not scored multiple goals in a game against NSU since they scored three against them on August 31, 2017. The Panthers have only scored two goals across four contests against the RiverHawks since then. 
- Finding early offense has been a key to success for Northeastern State in winning efforts against Drury. In each of their three wins against the Panthers dating back to 2018, the RiverHawks have scored within the first eleven minutes. Meanwhile, the Panthers have not scored in the first half against NSU since 2017.

Northeastern State vs. Missouri S&T // September 3 at 1 p.m. // Live Coverage

History with the Miners 
The RiverHawks trail the overall series 4-8-1 and are 2-2 when facing the Miners in Tahlequah. This is just the second meeting between the two teams at DeLoache Field since 2016. This also marks the first time in series history that Northeastern State and Missouri S&T will meet for three consecutive seasons. 

Scouting the Miners
- The Miners will face Rogers State on Friday evening before facing NSU on Sunday afternoon.
- Missouri S&T is tabbed to finish in eighth place after going 5-7-5 overall in 2022. The Miners are in search of their first winning season since 2017. 
- Sigurd Semlitsch is S&T's top returning offensive threat, scoring seven goals, and was a GLVC Third Team selection.  He has made three appearances against NSU with an assist as a true freshman in 2019.

Fast Facts 
- The RiverHawks have recorded more shots on goal in each of their last five games against Missouri S&T. The NSU offense has forced the Miners to make at least seven saves in three of their last four contests against the RiverHawks. 
- Despite dropping last year's matchup against the Miners, the RiverHawks took 15 shots in the second half, tied for their second most across the 2022 season.
- Missouri S&T's 2022 victory over Northeastern State marked the first time that a team won consecutive games in the series since 2002. The Miners and RiverHawks had alternated as victors since then, with NSU picking up wins in 2003, 2015, and 2019, while Missouri S&T scored wins in 2007 and 2017 prior to winning two straight across the last two seasons. 

Coming Up
The RiverHawks will travel to Memphis on Friday where they will play a neutral site match with McKendree. They will return to DeLoache Field when they face Dallas Baptist on Thursday, September 14.