The third-ranked Northwest Missouri State football team improved to 5-0 on the season and 4-0 in MIAA play with a 40-12 victory over Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon at Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah, Okla. NSU drops to 0-5 overall and in conference play.

Senior quarterback Trevor Adams passed for 212 yards and two scores, completing 11 of 16 attempts. Sophomore Brady Bolles had 134 yards passing and a touchdown, going 10-for-12. Northwest’s defense held the RiverHawks to just 244 total yards. Despite not forcing a turnover on the day, the Bearcats allowed just 3.7 yards per play and held NSU to just six third down conversions on 15 tries. Eric Reimer led the defense with 10 total tackles.

The game was delayed approximately an hour due to lightning in the area.

Northwest got on the board first, scoring on a 24 yard run from Phil Jackson II midway through the first. On the next possession, Adams hooked up with Jason Jozaites for a 52 yard pass, putting Northwest up, 14-0.

In the second quarter, Adams found Marcus Wright down the sideline for a 40 yard pass. Wright made a quick move inside and broke free for the score. With 5:36 remaining in the half, Ben Trewyn hit a 28 yard field goal, giving Northwest a 24-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Northeastern State took the ball 91 yards in eight plays, ending in a 12 yard pass from Cory Meaders to Tank Richmond. On the point-after attempt, Northwest blocked the kick and Brian Dixon returned it down the right sideline for two points.

With time winding down in the first half, the Bearcats put together an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Billy Creason scored from six yards out with just 36 seconds remaining, sending Northwest into the locker rooms with a 33-6 lead.

Northwest’s lone score of the second half took place on the opening drive of the third quarter. The Bearcats went 65 yards on 12 plays, resulting in a five-yard touchdown pass from Bolles to Korey Jackson.

Northwest will host Central Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Bearcat Stadium at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team fell to Southwest Baptist on Friday evening in an MIAA contest. Northwest falls to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in MIAA play while Southwest Baptist improves to 9-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Northwest jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, winning the first two sets 25-15 and 25-18, respectively. However, Southwest Baptist used the break to regroup and would take the next three sets to claim the match.

Junior Abby Graves had a game-high 17 kills to lead Northwest offensively. Senior Bridget Hanafin had 42 assists and had 22 digs. Sophomore Shelby Duren also had 22 digs. Juniors Bailey Vance and sophomore Kirsten Hudgens also recorded double-digit dig totals recording 14 and 13, respectively.

Up next, Northwest will head to Pittsburg State on Thursday, Oct. 10 for anMIAA matchup.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State women’s soccer lost a close match Friday to Northeastern State 1-0.

Northwest was able to get off six shots in the first half but could not find the back of the net.

NSU managed 10 shots of their own as Kelsey Adams picked up six saves in the first half.

The Bearcat offense could not get things going in the second half as the RiverHawk defense did not allow a shot on goal.

The 0-0 tie was broken up by NSU in the 58th minute when Katie Kippes scored the eventual game winning goal putting her team up 1-0.

Northwest moves to 3-5-1, 1-2 on the season. The Bearcats will finish their three game road trip Sunday as they take on Central Oklahoma (4-5-1, 1-1-1) in Edmond, Okla. with kickoff schedule for 1 pm.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced the 2014 football schedule for the 12 member schools on Thursday morning. Northwest’s schedule includes six designated home games and five road games.

The 2015 schedule will keep the same order of opponents but will just switch home/away field designations. Game times and promotions for the 2014 seasonalong with the dates for the 2015 schedule will be released at a later date.

Northwest will open the 2014 season at Bearcat Stadium against Nebraska-Kearney on either Sept. 4 or 6. The team will open its road schedule the following weekend at Missouri Southern. The remainder of the home slate includes Central Missouri (9/20), Northeastern State (10/4), Missouri Western (11/1) and Washburn (11/15). The Bearcats will travel to Central Oklahoma (9/27), Lindenwood (10/11), Fort Hays State (10/25) and Emporia State (11/8). The 2014 Fall Classic against Pittsburg State is scheduled for Oct. 18. Northwest will be designated as the home team for that contest.

2014 Bearcat Football Schedule

Sept. 4 or 6 vs. Nebraska-Kearney
Sept. 11 or 13 @ Missouri Southern
Sept. 20 vs. Central Missouri
Sept. 27 @ Central Oklahoma
Oct. 4 vs. Northeastern State
Oct. 11 @ Lindenwood
Oct. 18 Pittsburgh State
Oct. 25 @ Fort Hays State
Nov. 1     vs. Missouri Western
Nov. 8     @ Emporia State
Nov. 15 vs. Washburn

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State senior Cassie Lowell was named the MIAA Women’s Golfer of the Week on Wednesday, in a release from the conference office. Lowell is from Concordia, Kan., and graduated from Concordia High School.

Lowell placed second individually, falling in a one-hole playoff after shooting a combined 156 over the two-day tournament. Lowell’s 75 on Monday was the low individual round for the tournament. Her play helped lead the Bearcats to asecond place finish. Northwest had four individuals place in the top 10.

Lowell becomes the second Northwest golfer to earn the conference honor. Junior Taylor Gard was the MIAA Golfer of the Week after helping the Bearcats earn the William Jewell Women’s Golf Tune-Up in September.

Northwest will host the Bearcat Fall Golf Classic at Mozingo Lake Golf Course beginning on Oct. 7. The two-day event will be the Bearcats’ lone home tournament of the year.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State women’s soccer team managed its second straight shutout victory Tuesday as the Bearcats defeated Graceland University on Tuesday, 1-0. In the victory, senior Kelsey Adams etched her name into the Northwest goalkeeping record books.

Adams had nine saves in Tuesday’s victory, giving her 344 in her career, which surpassed the old record of 339 set by Kathie Leach (1999-01).

“I am very excited about the accomplishment,” Adams said. “The record is not just mine, it’s the whole team’s because I could not have done this by myself.”

Adams, who hails from Savannah, Mo., entered the season tied for second on the all-time saves list, also nabbed her 11th career clean sheet, moving her to second on the all-time shutout list for Northwest.

“Kelsey was amazing today,” said head coach Tracy Hoza. “She is an absolute pleasure to coach and I know coach Lampa and Kelsey have worked extremely hard the last few years to get to this point. Kelsey is one of the best athletes we have here at Northwest.”

Northwest found the back of the net when Anna Holden notched her second goal of the season in the 56th minute to go up 1-0.

One goal was all they needed as the Bearcat defense continued their excellent play, giving up only one goal in the last three games. The talented back line stepped up again Tuesday, not allowing a goal and grabbing their second shutout of the season.

Northwest improves its 2013 record to 3-4-1, 1-1 with the victory. The Bearcats will remain on the road as they head to Tahlequah, Okla., to take on Northeastern State in an MIAA matchup Friday with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —
— Associated Press —

The Northwest Missouri State golf team finished in second place at the Nebraska-Kearney Women’s Fall Classic at the Awarii Golf Club on Tuesday afternoon. Senior Cassie Lowell finished second individually to lead the Bearcats.

Northwest shot a combined 333 on the final day. Host Nebraska-Kearney won the event with a combined 640. The Lopers had a 14 stroke improvement between the first two days. Fort Hays State finished third (710), followed by Black Hill State (717) and South Dakota Mines (765).

Lowell, who was the day one individual leader, shot a combined 156 after a day-two total of 81. She tied with Kansas Wesleyan’s Kamie Rash but fell in a playoff hole for the individual title. Rash played as an individual as KWU did not compete as a team in the event. Taylor Gard shot Northwest’s low second-round score, carding an 80. She finished fifth individually. Ashley Powers and Kristina D’Angela each tied for 10th place and Hannah Sears finished 17th. Brooke Byland played as an individual and shot an 83 on the second day to place 18th overall.

Northwest will host the Bearcat Fall Golf Classic at Mozingo Lake Golf Course beginning on Oct. 7. The two-day event will be the Bearcats’ lone home tournament of the year.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State golf team finished the opening round of the UNK Women’s Fall Classic in first place on Monday afternoon at the Awarii Golf Club in Kearney, Neb. Northwest shot a combined 325 and is two strokes ahead of host Nebraska-Kearney.

Cassie Lowell shot a low round of 75 and currently is the individual leader by three strokes. Taylor Gard is in fourth place after a round of 80. Ashley Powers shot an 84 (11th place), followed by Kristina D’Angela with an 86 (t-13th place) and Hannah Sears shot an 87 (t-15th place).

The field includes the Bearcats, South Dakota Mines, Black Hills State, Fort Hays State and the host Lopers. There are 31 total individuals playing the event.

The second and final round will begin Tuesday at 9 a.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State track and field head coach Scott Lorek has announced the Bearcats’ 2013-14 indoor and outdoor schedules. The Bearcats will host one outdoor meet, the Northwest Open, on April 5, 2014, at the Herschel Neil Track inside Bearcat Stadium.

“We will get our fill of life on the road early,” said Lorek. “We always try to schedule in a way that best prepares us for the MIAA Championships. I thinkthis year’s schedule is challenging and will help us reach our goals.”

The indoor schedule begins on January 13 with the team breaking up to attend the Nebraska-Kearney Multi event and the Iowa State Holiday Preview in Ames, Iowa. The MIAA Indoor Championships will be hosted by Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo., on Feb 28 thru March 2.

Northwest’s outdoor schedule begins on March 21 with the Missouri Relays in Columbia, Mo. In addition to hosting the Northwest Open on April 5, the Bearcats will also host the Ashley Nalley Heptathlon/Herschel Neil Decathlon on March 29-30.

The rest of the outdoor schedule includes trips to Emporia, Kan., Wichita, Kan., Warrensburg, Mo., Lawrence, Kan., and Des Moines, Iowa. The 2014 MIAAOutdoor Championships will hosted by Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., and will be held May 2-4.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State junior defensive end Matt Longacre was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week on Monday in an announcement made by the league office. Longacre and the Bearcats defeated Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, 53-7.

Against the Lopers, Longacre recovered a fumble and returned it 17 yards for a score. He also had four tackles, two tackeles for loss and half a sack. Longacre is a native of Omaha, Neb., and attended Millard West High School.

Longacre becomes the second Bearcat to earn the conference honor. Senior Brandon Dixon earned the award during the opening week for his performance against Saginaw Valley.

Northwest will head to Northeastern State on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest against the RiverHawks in Tahlequah, Okla.

— Northwest Sports Information —