RiverHawks Rout Eastern New Mexico

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State struck for four goals in the second half to score a 5-0 Lone Star Conference men's soccer victory over Eastern New Mexico Friday afternoon at the RiverHawks pitch.

It was the RiverHawks first LSC win of the season as they improve to 9-9-0 overall and 1-4-0 in the LSC. Eastern New Mexico falls to 11-6-2 and 2-4 in league play. Northeastern is now 8-1 at home.

Sam Vernalls scored the first of his two goals in the first half at 10:30 to give the RiverHawks a 1-0 lead at the intermission. He was assisted on the play by Dustin Lyons.

It was Vernalls again in the second half to open the Northeastern State scoring when he fired a rocket into the net from 9 yards out at 51:06 for a 2-0 RiverHawks advantage. The goal came on a long pass from Cory Cipollone.

Northeastern State put the game out of reach for the Greyhounds when Lyons scored on a Vernalls pass to make it 3-0. The RiverHawks increased its lead to 4-0 when Dre Hill took a pass from Cipollone to score on a header at the 74-minute mark.

The final Northeastern State goal came at 84:17 when Alex Novoa took a Josh Hughes pass to score from 10 yards out.

Northeastern State returns to action Sunday at the RiverHawks pitch against West Texas A&M at noon.