Sept. 27, 2009

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By Brett Maikowski, Southeast Missouri State Sports Information

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - In their Ohio Valley Conference season opener, the Redhawk soccer team and the Panthers of Eastern Illinois ended in a 1-1 tie today at Houck Stadium. Southeast led the entire match up until the 76th minute when Eastern tied it up off a corner kick header. The Redhawks now move to 5-4-1 overall and 0-0-1 in the OVC, while the Panthers notch their fourth tie of the season and now hold a 4-3-4, 0-0-1 OVC record.

The Redhawks severely outshot the Panthers by a huge 27-4 margin, including 15 shots in the second half alone. Southeast was only able to knock in one of those shots though in the 30th minute of play.

Just before, Ashley Runion took a shot that deflected off goalkeeper Jenny Williams' hands and out of bounds. Lauren Lacopo then subbed into the game for Mabel Velarde to take the corner kick. After sending a perfect cross into the middle of the box, Stephanie Kulavic was able to get her head on the ball and soar it just over the fingertips of the goalie to give Southeast the early lead.

The Redhawks held on to this lead for the next 45 minutes of the match, but then the Panthers did the exact same thing. With Laura Ridolfi subbing into the game just three minutes prior, she was in perfect position when Rachel Hamilton chipped the ball directly to her for the header goal to tie the match up at one.

The match then went into two overtime periods in which SEMO outshot EIU, 3-1. Southeast had a golden opportunity to cash in and win the match in the 103rd minute of the second overtime period when Runion broke away from the defense after a spin move which left no one in between her and the goalie. After aiming for the bottom right corner of the goal, she sent it wide and was unable to score.

In goal, EIU keeper Jenny Williams notched 13 saves, including six in both the first and second halves, while giving up one goal in only her second start of the season. Southeast goalie Kristen Starkey recorded one save and gave up one goal as only two of Eastern's four shots were on goal the entire match.

Southeast also dominated the offensive end with corner kick scoring opportunities. The Redhawks managed nine corner kicks compared to only three on the Panthers' end of the field.

Southeast had four players who played the whole match in its entirety. Among these were Kristen Starkey, Vanessa Hart, Ashley Runion, and Hayley Abbott.

The Redhawks will remain home at Houck Stadium this coming weekend as they take on the Lady Govs of Austin Peay on Friday at 7 p.m. Then on Sunday, the team will get a break from conference competition with the annual Alumni Game at 2 p.m.