Northeastern State took care of business on its home field Tuesday night, beating Northwest Missouri State, 2-1, at DeLoache Field. With the win, the RiverHawks advanced to the MIAA tournament semifinals, which will be held in Warrensburg, Mo.

Also advancing to the tournament semifinals was Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma and Fort Hayes State.

The top-seeded Central Missouri Jennies — NSU’s opponent in the semifinals — held off Southwest Baptist with a 3-1 victory in a shutout period after regulation ended tied at two apiece in the match. Central Missouri’s Jenna Stones won the match for the Jennies with the third penalty kick in the shootout period, while Southwest Baptist’s Halee Ruckman missed her subsequent attempt.

In Edmond, Alyssa Anderson, Kate Foran, Elle Aston and Caitlin Bond all scored as Central Oklahoma shut out Missouri Southern, 4-0.

The Bronchos’ semifinals opponent will be Fort Hays State, which beat Truman, 1-0, in Kirksville, Mo. Nicole Randall scored a goal in the 76th minute off a free kick to propel the Tigers into the next round.



Clark picks up MIAA honor

NSU’s Jennifer Clark earned her first-career weekly accolade as she was named the MIAA Women’s Soccer Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.

Clark, a junior forward, recorded at least one point in every match (two goals, two assists) as the RiverHawks posted a 3-0 mark last week.

She scored the game-winning goal in Northeastern State’s first match of the week against Ouachita Baptist. She also scored the first goal and then picked up an assist in the team’s win over Emporia State.

Clark completed her weekend by assisting on the game-winning goal against Washburn to help the RiverHawks bypass Northwest Missouri State and earn the No. 4 seed in the 2012 MIAA Women’s Soccer Championship.

This is the second weekly award for Northeastern State this year. Senior forward Rachel Sordahl won the honor Sept. 11.



Mendoza recognized by MIAA

NSU’s Joel Mendoza turned his first-collegiate hat trick into his first conference accolade, as the freshman forward was named the MIAA Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Week Tuesday by the league office.

The freshman forward from Dallas began his week with a goal in NSU’s 4-0 triumph over Ouachita Baptist. He then racked up three tallies, including the game-winning mark, on the road in a 7-1 victory over Harding.

Mendoza now has seven goals and three assists this season, and he is third on the team with 17 points.

Northeastern State has secured a league-high four MIAA Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Week honors. Others who have won the honor are senior goalkeeper Jordan Ladbrooke (Sept. 4), senior midfielder Bo White (Sept. 11) and sophomore forward Juan Peralta (Oct. 2).

By winning the men’s and women’s soccer awards from the MIAA this week, the RiverHawks have now swept league honors twice this season.

No. 14 Northeastern State (11-3-3, 7-1-2 MIAA) has earned the No. 2 seed in the 2012 MIAA Men’s Soccer Championship, and the RiverHawks will face No. 4 seed Truman State (10-5-1, 7-2-1 MIAA) in the opening round at 4 p.m. Nov. 1 in Olathe, Kan.