Aug. 11, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State soccer was picked to finish third in the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, which was released by the conference office earlier today. Southeast garnered 128 points and a first-place vote in the poll that was conducted by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.

The Redhawks tallied a 13-6-1 season ledger in 2005, finished in a tie for third place in OVC play with Murray State thanks to a 5-3-1 mark, and advanced to the semifinals of the OVC Tournament last November in Charleston, Ill. Southeast returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from last year, including the 2005 OVC Defensive Player of the Year in senior goalkeeper Lindsay Pickering (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles West). Other key returnees include junior forward Alaina Lacopo (Troy, Ill./Triad) and sophomore forward Casey Kraft (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall).

Defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion Samford was selected to repeat with 161 points and 17 first-place votes. Eastern Illinois took two first-place votes to be picked second with 140 points in front of Southeast. Murray State edged Jacksonville State by three points for fourth-place honors. Austin Peay (88 points - sixth), Tennessee Tech (55 points - seventh), Morehead State (49 points - eighth), UT Martin (48 points - ninth) and Eastern Kentucky (28 points - 10th) rounded out the poll.

The Redhawks open the 2006 season against Arkansas-Little Rock as part of the SEMO Invitational Tournament at Houck Stadium on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.

2006 OVC Soccer Predicted Team Order of Finish
(as selected by OVC Head Soccer Coaches
and Sports Information Directors)
1. Samford (17 first-place votes)		   	161 pts.
2. Eastern Illinois (Two first-place votes)		140 pts.
3. Southeast Missouri (One first-place vote)	128 pts.
4. Murray State					103 pts.
5. Jacksonville State				100 pts.
6. Austin Peay					88 pts.
7. Tennessee Tech				   	55 pts.
8. Morehead State					49 pts.
9. UT Martin					   48 pts.
10. Eastern Kentucky				28 pts.