TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State women's soccer kicks off a four-match road trip on Friday, Sept. 29 when they travel to Emporia, Kan. to face Emporia State. They remain in the Sunflower state to open October with a meeting with Washburn in Topeka on Oct. 1. 

The RiverHawks have claimed two of their last three, but drew in their MIAA opener against Central Oklahoma on Sunday in a 1-1 affair. 

Northeastern State at Emporia State // September 29 at 3 p.m. // Live Coverage

History with the Hornets 
Northeastern State holds a 7-7-2 all-time record against Emporia State. NSU has taken six of ten conference meetings, though ESU has won three of the last four.

Scouting the Hornets (1-4-3 / 1-1 MIAA)
- Emporia State remains at home this week for the final two contests of a four-match homestand, as they take on Rogers State on Oct. 1 after doing battle with the RiverHawks. 
- Offense has been hard to come by for the Hornets so far, as they possess one multi-goal performance, coming in the form of a 5-0 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Sept. 22. ESU has scored just four times across their other seven matches.
- The Hornets are the most penalized team in the MIAA, with 92 fouls so far in 2023. They've been dealt six yellow cards, as well, tying for fourth-most in the conference. 
- Mackenzie Dimarco and Hadlie Lowe are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece. Lowe registered a brace during their victory over the Lopers, while Dimarco has scored in three of her last four appearances. Dimarco is a two-time All-American and three-time All-MIAA First Team honoree who has scored 64 goals across her storied career with the Hornets, while Lowe is in her first season with the program after being an All-American in the NJCAA ranks for Hutchinson CC. 

Fast Facts
- Sydney Taylor has been a force to be reckoned with for the NSU offense as of late, with five goals across her last three appearances. Emporia State is a team that the sophomore has a history of success against, as she scored the second goal of her NSU career when the Hornets faced the RiverHawks in Tahlequah last year on Sept. 23, 2022. 
- This matchup will take place six years to the day since NSU's last victory against ESU in Emporia. On Sept. 29, 2017, the RiverHawks fought to a 4-1 win over the Hornets after scoring four unanswered starting in the 27th minute. Paulina Chavez recorded a brace, while Mariah Nicolet scored and provided two assists. Julia Mathis also found the back of the net in the win, which was part of a ten-match winning streak to open the campaign. 
- This matchup will be NSU's first opportunity this season to break a four-match winless drought in Kansas. The RiverHawks are in search of their first win in the state since Oct. 31, 2021. 

Northeastern State at (RV) Washburn  // October 1 at 1 p.m. // Live Coverage

History with the Ichabods
Northeastern State has won seven of eleven meetings all-time against Washburn, while the Ichabods have emerged victorious just once in the series. The last two matchups between the teams have ended in draws.

Scouting the Ichabods (7-1 / 1-0 MIAA)
- The Ichabods have won seven of their first eight, their best eight-match start since 2006, and good enough to currently be receiving votes for the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. 
- Washburn enters the week with the highest-scoring offense in the MIAA, with 20 goals across their first eight matches. Leading the offensive attack is Ana Muruzabal, who has four goals in seven apperances off the bench. Khloe Schuckman and Viviana Soto-Herrera have started all eight matches and have scored three goals apiece, while Aubrey Tanksley has notched three scores as well, with all of them being game-winners for the Ichabods. 
- Defensively, the Ichabods are tied for the third fewest goals allowed across the conference (6), despite recording the fewest saves in the MIAA so far (16). 
- The Ichabods are the second-most penalized team in the MIAA this season, with 90 fouls against them. In addition to this, they're tied for the most yellow cards in the conference (7), while they've also taken the most offsides calls (23). 

Fast Facts
- Despite shutting out the opposing Ichabods and having 12 second-half attempts, as well as nine shots on-goal across the match, the RiverHawks were held scoreless across 90 minutes against Washburn in last year's meeting on Sept. 25, 2022. It marked the first goalless draw in series history. 
- The last two seasons have seen impressive performances from RiverHawk goalkeepers against the Ichabod offense. Then-true freshman Rebecca Partyka logged a career-high eight saves in last year's matchup, while Melanie Rice got in front of eight Washburn shots on-goal across 110 minutes of work on Oct. 8, 2021 in a 1-1 draw that saw overtime.
- Trips to Topeka haven't been common in recent years, as this will just be the second time the RiverHawks have faced the Ichabods at Yager Stadium since 2017.

Coming Up
The RiverHawks travel to Joplin. Mo. to face Missouri Southern in Joplin on Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. before going to Warrensburg to face No. 10 Central Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.