Alexander Guides Southeast To 3-2 Win At Murray State :: Sophomore forward tallies second career hat trick to lead Redhawks past Racers

Oct. 19, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Sophomore forward Courtney Alexander (Liberty, MO/Liberty) tallied her second career hat trick in leading Southeast Missouri State soccer to a 3-2 win at Murray State in an Ohio Valley Conference battle this afternoon at Cutchin Field. The Redhawks improved their season record to 9-2-1 with the win, while the Racers dropped to 9-7 (4-3) on the year.

Alexander started the scoring in the 19th minute after receiving a pass from freshman forward Ashley Runion (St. Peters, MO/Ft. Zumwalt South) at the top of the 18-yard box and blasted a shot past Racer goalie Tara Isbell to the right corner for a 1-0 advantage that Southeast held throughout the first half into intermission.

The Redhawks increased their leading margin at 2-0 in the 57th minute on Alexander's second tally of the day when she went coast to coast for an unassisted goal. She scored her final goal on a 1v1 play in the 67th minute to put the visitors ahead by a three-goal advantage.

Murray State sliced its deficit to 3-1 in the 77th minute on a goal from freshman Katie Wilson with the assist going to senior Sara Struve. In the 80th minute, Wilson struck again with another goal off a pass from Laken Duress that brought the Racers to within a goal, but the Redhawks held on in the final 10 minutes for the win.

The shooting advantage was deadlocked as both teams recorded 12 shots, while Murray State held a 6-2 leading margin in corner kicks and Southeast posted a 6-3 lead in saves.

Alexander and senior forward Alaina Lacopo (Troy, IL/Triad) each recorded a match-best four shot attempts to lead the Redhawks, while senior goalkeeper Lindsay Pickering (St. Charles, MO/St. Charles West) posted five saves in 73 scoreless minutes.

Wilson finished the match with three shot attempts, all on goal, while Isbell produced three saves in goal for the Racers.

The Redhawks travel to Tennessee for their final OVC and regular-season road match of the season when they battle Tennessee-Martin at UTM's Skyhawk Field with the start time at 2 p.m.