The Peacocks led at halftime, but couldn't hold off the second half barrage by #15 Northeastern State, falling 4-1. It was the second time this season that UIU had held a lead in the second half against the RiverHawks, but ended the game on the losing side.

Upper Iowa was on the attack early, taking 11 shots in the game's first 26 minutes. At the 11:46 mark, one of those shots turned into a goal for the Peacocks. Sophomore forward Ryan Pinkerton scooped up a rebound in the box and put it away to give the UIU the 1-0 lead early. It was Pinkerton's fifth goal of the year, surpassing his total of four from last year.

However, from the 26:25 mark on in the first half, the Peacocks didn't get off another shot, while the RiverHawks were able to take six, putting just one on net and the game remained 1-0 at the half, in favor of UIU.

The lead didn't last long. Northeastern came out of the break with the same pressure that they used to end the first half. Twelve minutes into the second period, the game was tied. Junior midfielder Crosby Lee sent a cross into the box, which was flicked on with a header by senior midfielder Jordan Schmoker, then finished by senior defender Terence Smith to tie the game, 1-1, at the 57:14 mark.

Ten minutes later, the RiverHawks took the lead. Freshman forward Ricardo Palomino took a pass from Schmoker and ripped a shot that went in the right upper corner of the goal past a diving Connor Rortvedt.

Schmoker picked up his third assist on the third Northeastern goal, just six minutes later. This time it was Schmoker who sent in the cross, headed by Palomino to freshman forward Justin Todd, who put the ball to the near post and into the net. 

Junior midfielder Paul Samia wrapped up the scoring, puting the RiverHawks up 4-1 when he took a pass from Smith and shot it to the far right post, beating an out-stretched Rortvedt.

UIU managed seven shots in the second half, two on goal, for a game total of 18. NSU put up 13 shots in the latter half, nine of which were on frame, for a game total of 22.

Pinkerton and Rhys Williams had four spots apiece to lead the Peacocks, while Johnny McBeth, Greg Marshall and Leandro Pena each had three shots each. Rortvedt made seven saves on the day.

Upper Iowa returns home for its next game, when it will take on Lindenwood on Thursday, Oct. 16. It will be the first Peacock home men's soccer match since Sept. 20. The game will kick off at 2 p.m.