Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney soccer team has one of its toughest weekends of the season when it plays at Northeastern State Friday night and Central Oklahoma Sunday afternoon.

The NSU Riverhawks, of Tahlequah, are currently 7-2 (3-2 MIAA) and have tallied 25 goals this year while the 24th-ranked UCO Bronchos are 9-1-1 and are currently tied for first place in the league (4-0-1).

The game Friday starts at 7:00 p.m. with Sunday's tilt in Edmond beginning at 1:00 p.m. Live stats are available for the NSU match.

Northeastern, a fellow MIAA newcomer, bounced back from a 3-0 loss at NW Missouri State last Friday with a 3-1 win at Missouri Western State. The 'Hawks are paced by Rachel Sordahl, a senior forward who ranks second in the MIAA with eight goals.

Sophomore Lizzie Cudjoe (five assists and four goals), a native of Ghana, and true freshman keeper Hannah Brudzinski (1.22 GAA) are other NSU players to watch.

UCO leads the MIAA with 26 goals scored as they own wins of 7-1, 3-1 and 3-1. They are, however, coming off a 1-1 tie with NW Missouri.

Senior forward Brittni Walker leads the team with an impressive 24 points (seven goals and four assists) with six others have scored at least two goals. Senior keeper Meagan Burke, a Colorado native, has a 0.79 GAA and has made 45 saves in over 900 minutes of work.

The young Lopers, looking for its third road win of 2012, enter the stretch run to the MIAA Tournament having scored 19 goals and given up 19 goals.

Showing its depth, UNK has seen 11 different players score at least one goal this fall with six Lopers handing out at least one assist. This balanced attack has been needed as the injury bug as bitten many a Kearney player.

Sophomore Ashtin Pawloski (Hastings) and freshman Mckinzie Rieber (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) are two players to have appeared in all 11 games. Pawloski currently leads the team in shots (21) and is tied for second in points (seven) with Rieber at eight points (three goals and two assists).

UNK returns home next weekend to host Missouri Western (Thurs. night) and NW Missouri (Sat. afternoon).