TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State rounds out the month of September as they continue GAC/MIAA play with matchups against Rogers State and Southern Nazarene this week. 

The RiverHawks enter the week winners of two straight, most recently taking last week's conference opener against Harding in a 2-0 triumph at DeLoache Field. The defense has not surrendered a goal in their last 284 minutes of play. 

Northeastern State vs. Rogers State // September 28 at 7 p.m. // Live Coverage

History with the Hillcats
Northeastern State is 3-7-2 all-time against Rogers State and 2-2-2 in matchups held in Tahlequah. The RiverHawks are in search of their first home victory against the Hillcats since Sept. 6, 2018.

Scouting the Hillcats (4-2-2 / 1-1 GAC/MIAA)
- Rogers State dropped their conference opener last week to Southern Nazarene in Claremore in a 1-0 setback before traveling to Wichita and exploding to a 9-1 victory over Newman. 
- Marcos Vasallo tied the single-game school record for goals in last week's dominant win over the Jets, connecting four times. The 2022 All-GAC/MIAA Second-Team selection has six goals so far in 2023, leading the conference.
- The Hillcats hold a 1-1-1 record against ranked opponents this season, notably defeating then-#14 UC Colorado Springs on the road in a 2-1 effort on Sept. 16.
- The Hillcats hold a 3-1-1 record away from Claremore. 

Fast Facts
- During last season's match in Tahlequah on Sept. 24, 2022, NSU tripled RSU's shot output 24-8, but the RiverHawks could only convert on one of their nine on-goal attempts. A successful penalty kick in the 50th minute by Flynn Semmerling gave NSU a 1-nil lead before the Hillcats responded with a make in the 67th to even the score at one apiece. The offenses stayed silent after, leading to the second draw in series history. 
- The Hillcats' defense has limited NSU to six goals across the last nine meetings between the teams, being shut out on four occasions during that span of time.
- Martin Martinez will be a name to watch for NSU, as the sophomore was the only RiverHawk to register a made attempt and multiple shots on-goal in the most recent matchup against RSU on Oct. 15, 2022. 

Northeastern State at Southern Nazarene // September 30 at 7 p.m. // Live Coverage

History with the Crimson Storm
NSU holds a 21-34-2 all-time record against SNU, though they've won 11 of 18 conference matchups. The Crimson Storm have won five of the last six meetings, including all three contests in 2022. 

Scouting the Crimson Storm (4-2-2 / 2-0 GAC/MIAA)
- Southern Nazarene is coming off of strong opening week in GAC/MIAA play, taking down then-#13 Rogers State in Claremore on Sept. 21 in a 1-0 win before recording another shutout on Sept. 23 in a 2-0 victory over Fort Hays State. 
- SNU possesses the second highest-scoring offense in the conference with 15 goals across their first eight matches. The Storm have two of the GAC/MIAA's top ten goal scorers in Bruno Ferreira (t-2nd, five goals) and Unaiz Shajani (t-7th, three). 
- All three home victories for SNU so far this season have been by multiple goals. 
- The Crimson Storm enter the week with the most penalty kicks attempted and converted in the GAC/MIAA, as they've struck true on all three opportunities up to this point in the season. They're one of only two teams in the conference that have received multiple penalty kick attempts so far in 2023. 

Fast Facts
- Northeastern State's most recent victory against Southern Nazarene came in the GAC/MIAA Conference Tournament semifinals on Nov. 12, 2021. SNU claimed the regular season title that season, but the top-seeded Crimson Storm fell to the fourth-seeded RiverHawks in a dominant 3-0 result. Flynn Semmerling led the way with two goals in the 22nd and 48th minutes, while Luan Lamas added one of his own in the 46th to propel NSU to their fourth conference tournament championship match. 
- September battles with SNU haven't been a frequent occurrence for NSU, as this will just be the second time the RiverHawks have faced the Crimson Storm during the month since 2012. NSU claimed the last September contest against SNU in a 4-2 victory in Tahlequah on Sept. 26, 2019. 
- This will be the third straight matchup between the Crimson Storm and the RiverHawks in Bethany. The rematch will be held in Tahlequah on Oct. 21. 

In the Rankings
- Northeastern State's defense is fifth nationally in goals against average per match (.333).
- Ian Milla is ranked tenth nationally with a .889 save percentage. 
- Ivan Lopez ranks third in the national ranking with 2.50 shots on goal per game. 

Coming Up
Northeastern State goes on the road again the following week, traveling to Wichita, Kan. to face Newman on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. before returning to DeLoache Field for a 1 p.m. match against Fort Hays State on Saturday, Oct. 7.