RiverHawks Ranked in NSCAA Poll

KANSAS CITY, Kan. --- Northeastern State is ranked No. 14 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll. The RiverHawks, 3-0, also are ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II South Central regional poll, ahead of Friday night's opponent Texas A&M-International.

This is the first week NSU has been ranked in the national poll. Northern Kentucky, at 4-0, is ranked No. 1, followed by Rollins, Midwestern State, Southern New Hampshire and Mercyhurst which round out the top five.

In the regional ranking, Midwestern State is first, followed by NSU, TAMU-I, Eastern New Mexico and Incarnate Word.

To view the national poll, please click here.

To view the regional rankings, please click here.

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Head Coach Rob Czlonka offered this open letter to the NSU Soccer Community on Tuesday night:

Dear Family, Friends, Alumni and NSU Supporters,

Hopefully by now you have heard many good things about our 2011 NSU Men’s Soccer team.  The guys are really working hard and playing with passion.  This past Friday the River Hawks Men’s soccer team faced off against MIAA appoints Fort Hays State.  NSU controlled the majority of the match amassing 12 shots, 6 on goal, in the first half compared to Fort Hays States 6 shots, 3 on goal.  The Second have was all NSU with 10 shots, 4 on goal, while only allowing FHSU 2 shot’s, none on goal.  FHSU were finally caught defensively in the 76th minute when sophomore, center midfielder Mathus Baldo (Porto Alegre, Brazil) would connect his cross field pass to freshman, striker Juan Peralta (Tulsa, Oklahoma) who would finish with a great shot in the net.  This would be Peralta’s second goal of the season and his first game winner.

I was very proud of the guy's for the way they came out and handled themselves in front of a great crowd at our home opener.  I saw many alumni and heard that Dr. DeLoache enjoyed watching our team, and it was possibly noted by him that we held the edge over the opposition in corner kicks:  NSU 6 – FHSU 1.
Well, it is on to the next match which will be another big one for the RiverHawks as we take on Texas A&M International University (3-0-0) at 7:00 pm here at Dr. Dan DeLoache Field.  The RiverHawks will be at home again this weekend on Sunday Sept 18th at 1:00pm against St. Mary’s (Texas). 
Thank you for your continued support and I hope to see you all this weekend.

GO RiverHawks!

Coach Czlonka
With all that is happening in sports this week and school, I wanted to take a moment to thank you to all those who took time to remember and pay respect for all those whose families were affected by 9 – 11 - 01.  Personally I wanted to thank those on our current NSU Men’s Soccer team for the reverence they showed at training on the 10th anniversary of that event, Thank You.
 
One Last Thing!!
I was also informed this morning that NSU has moved up the Regional Rankings Posted by the NSCAA, National Soccer Coaches Association of America.  NSU moved from 6th in the south central region to 2nd.  In addition to that jump NSU Men's Soccer has jumped into the national spotlight as the 14th Ranked team in NCAA Division II.
 
Go RiverHawks