Aug. 24, 2005

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State University women's soccer team will open the 2005 season with two matches at the Lady Gov's Tournament in Clarksville, Tenn.

Southeast will open on Friday, 4 p.m., vs. Gardner Webb and will go against IUPUI on Sunday, 11 a.m. Both matches will be at Austin Peay with the Lady Govs also going against Gardner Webb and IUPUI.

"Gardner Webb will be a good opening opponent for us," said Southeast coach Heather Nelson. "They have a very solid club that will test us in a lot of areas. They had a 2-0 win over High Point in their only exhibition match.

"It will be good to finally play a match that means something," Nelson said. "We were 2-1 in exhibition play when we concentrated on getting a look at our entire roster. Now we hope to settle on a lineup that can create goal scoring opportunities and finish them."

Southeast has always relied on a strong defense and Nelson feels this year's squad has made great strides. "I feel we're fairly organized in the back of the field and Lindsay Pickering has been outstanding in goal. Our mid fielders and forwards are still a work in progress. I do think we have the athletes and ability to be a strong attacking team, but its just going to take a little longer to develop a real flow on offense." Sunday,

Southeast will face an IUPUI team that tied Wright State 1-1 in exhibition play. "We don't know much about IUPUI, but we will have a chance to see them when they play Austin Peay on Friday," Nelson said. "It should be a good weekend of soccer that will tell us a lot about this year's team."

The Redhawks will open the home season on Friday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m., hosting perennial power Saint Louis University at Houck Stadium.