Box Score  
Box Score
 
Mount Mercy, Harding University and Northeastern all have one thing in common. They all totaled three goals against the Upper Iowa men’s soccer team this week. Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the RiverHawks was the second straight 3-0 loss for the Peacocks and the third time this week the team has given up three goals to an opponent.
 
UIU coaches knew this week was going to be challenging, but not just because all three matches were on the road, but also because Harding and Northeastern were two very strong MIAA foes. That’s what made this week especially disheartening.
 
Last Saturday, the team sat at 3-4, fresh off a 3-2 MIAA road victory over Southwest Baptist University. Hopes were high and .500 was on the horizon, but then momentum faded and the squad dropped four matches in a row, and in three of those, UIU was shutout.
 
Northeastern State wasted no time scoring the first goal of Sunday’s match as Juan Peralta found the back of the net in the eighth minute. Both Jordan and Adam Schmoker were awarded an assist on the play.
 
The RiverHawks extended their 1-0 lead just 50 seconds into the second period as Jordan Schmoker recorded his second assist of the match as he found Peralta again. The NSU forward connected with the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season.
 
The scoring didn’t stop there, though. The RiverHawks leading scorer Bo White found the net with just 43 seconds left in the match. His unassisted score sealed the 3-0 victory and was his ninth goal this season.
 
Overall, the Peacocks were outshot 30-7, their largest differential this season. The loss drops UIU to 3-8 overall and 1-4 in the MIAA.
 
Junior goalkeeper Jordan Bell totaled nine saves, but gave up three goals for the third straight match.
 
UIU will need a strong response this weekend as they return home for the first time in three weeks to host North Iowa Area Community College at 3 p.m. on Sunday.