TAHLEQUAH – Following a week break, Northeastern State returns to the pitch with its shortest road trip of the season on Thursday evening to face Rogers State and then travels Saturday to Ouachita Baptist. 

The Thursday meeting in Claremore will close out the first round of GAC/MIAA contests with NSU looking for a season sweep of Ouachita Baptist when they travel to Arkadelphia.

Northeastern State (2-6-3, 2-3 GAC/MIAA) will look to even its conference mark at Rogers State.  Ivan Lopez has scored a goal in two of the previous four matches for the RiverHawks.

History with the Hillcats
Northeastern State trails the overall series 4-8-2 to Rogers State and has won two of their last three meetings in Claremore.  Both matches last season were decided by a 1-nil result.   

Scouting the Hillcats (4-4-3, 4-0-1 GAC/MIAA)

• Rogers State is the lone remaining team in the GAC/MIAA that has not suffered a loss in conference play. 
• The Hillcats have played seven matches this season against teams ranked in the top 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. 
• The 2024 season is the final one for RSU head coach Derek Larkin who will step down after leading the Hillcats for 18 years.

History with the Tigers
The RiverHawks are 23-3-1 against the Tigers in the all-time series. NSU has an unbeaten streak of 13 matches against OBU, only allowing seven goals in that span.  In the first meeting of the season, Northeastern State won 2-1 in Tahlequah with Assanie Brown and Ivan Lopez scoring.

Scouting the Tigers (3-7-1, 1-4 GAC/MIAA) 

• The Tigers won their first GAC/MIAA contest in over a season on Saturday beating Newman 1-0 at home. 
• Saturday's win against Newman was OBU's first win against an NCAA foe this season.
• Alexis Murillo opened the week by scoring a goal in three consecutive games and had the match-winner against Newman.