Aug. 27, 2010

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MURRAY, Ky. - The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team continued to show off their offensive firepower with a 9-1 victory over Alabama A&M at the opening day of the Racer Classic in Murray, Kentucky. The goal output tied for the fourth-highest goal total in program history.

Six different players scored for the Redhawks (2-0) including two who scored multiple goals.

Senior Ashley Runion led the offensive charge, totaling nine points. She recorded her second career hat-trick and set a new career-best with three assists.

Freshman Amy Ward netted two goals and two assists.

The Redhawks scored the first goal of the game when Runion settled a pass from Stephanie Palmer and went upper left corner in the fifth minute.

The Bulldogs (0-3) countered with a Celeste Roberts goal in the 16th minute to tie the game at 1-1.

Freshman Signe' Novak would later score the eventual game-winner 11 minutes later when she scored off a Runion rebound.

Three minutes later sophomore Courtney Luehmann scored her first collegiate goal. After receiving a Runion pass at the top of the box, she fired a strike over the leaping goalkeeper and just under the crossbar.

Ward closed out the scoring in the first period with her first collegiate goal. Novak found Ward inside the box for a 4-1 lead.

Ward struck again in the second period. In the 51st minute, she weaved through the Bulldog defense and beat the goalkeeper for the unassisted goal.

Later in the period Runion and freshman Jacey Boyko scored goals with :50 seconds of each other. Runion's goal came courtesy of Siobhan Symington and Taylor Thomas. Ward was credited with the assist after delivering a perfectly executed flip throw-in that Boyko headed in to make it 7-1.

Ward's flip throw-in was again used on Palmer's goal in the 86th minute. Her throw floated into the box and Runion pushed it towards the goal with a header that Palmer finished from two feet out.

The Redhawks final goal came 1:03 later. Runion chipped in a Taylor Byrd pass from ten yards out to complete the hat trick.

For Runion, her three goals gave her 19 in her career which ties Lisa Schweppe for third on the school's career charts. Her three assists also tied her with Schweppe for fourth with 13 career assists. She also moved into a tie for fourth with 51 career points.

The Redhawks outshot the Bulldogs 27-6 including 16-3 on goal. The win improved them to 4-0 all-time against their Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent.

Eighteen of the 27 shots came in the second half as the Redhawks outscored the Bulldogs 5-0.

Freshman Ashton Aubuchon improved to 2-0 in the nets as she recorded two saves in 57 minutes of action. Fellow freshman goalie Jessica Grindstaff replaced her in goal.

The team will look to extend their three-game winning streak on Sunday against South Florida in the final day of the Racer Classic. Gametime is set for noon at Cutchin Field in the heart of the Murray State campus.