Aug. 19, 2004

CAPE GIRADEAU, Mo. -

The Southeast Missouri State soccer team will host two exhibition games this weekend to start their highly anticipated 2004 season. They welcome the University of Memphis Lady Tigers on Friday, August 20, at 6:00 p.m., then face the Drury University Panthers on Sunday, August 22, at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be played at Houck Stadium.

Head Coach Heather Nelson begins her sixth season at Southeast with an experienced and talented squad that returns eight of their top ten point scorers and their starting goalie. 17 returnees, including eight starters, anchor a team that went 10-5-5 last season. Six highly touted newcomers provide even more depth to a team that only lost two starters from last season. Among the returning starters for Southeast are seniors Marla Gianino, Heather Reding and Laura Hauskins, junior Ashley DeRoy and sophomore Jessi Wuellner.

Gianino is a two-time first team All-OVC performer and is the school's all-time career assist leader. Reding is a two-time All-OVC performer. Hauskins is considered one the best returning defenders in the OVC. DeRoy finished second on the team in points last season with nine. Wuellner is a third team All-OVC selection.

The Lady Tigers went 5-10-3 last season, including a 1-1 tie versus Southeast, and 2-7-1 in Conference USA. Three of the Tigers' top four point scorers return. Forward Yuiko Konno is C-USA's leading goal scorer from last season with 12 goals, she also recorded 27 points which tied for the C-USA lead.

The Panthers went 6-13 last season and 1-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference. They return seven starters and 15 letterwinners from a year ago. Sophomore midfielder Kasey Mahaffey is the Panthers top returning scorer with eight points last season. Senior goalkeeper Brittany Kimbro is a All-MVC Second Team selection.

Southeasts' first regular season game is Friday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m. against the University of Arkansas Lady Razorbacks at Houck Stadium. Tickets for the 2004 season are available by calling the Athletic Ticket office at 1-866-SEMO-TIK.