Aug. 28, 2008

By: Bryce Weymouth, Sport Information Assistant

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Thursday, August 28, 2008)- The Redhawks open their 2008 season Friday night at Houck Stadium against in-state rival Missouri State at 7:00 p.m. Last weekends scheduled season open against fellow in-state rival Saint Louis was cancelled due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled at a later time.

The Redhawks posted a 12-3-4 record last season while capturing their second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Tenth-year head coach Heather Nelson returns 12 letterwinners and four starters from the 2007 team, including seniors Nicole Bussman (Port Orchard, Wash./South Kitsap), Casey Kraft (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall) and sophomore Ashley Runion (St. Peters, MO/Fort Zumwalt South). Southeast posted a 3-0 record in three exhibition matches: a 3-2 win at Indiana State, a 7-0 win against Arkansas State and a 2-0 win against Missouri-St. Louis.

Scouting the Bears

Missouri State comes into Friday’s matchup with a 1-1 record after opening their season last week with 1-0 loss against Arkansas but bounced back two days later with a 2-0 defeat of Arkansas-Little Rock.

After a 6-11-2 record last season, the Bears are returning nine starters. Offensively Kelsey Finders and Samantha Aguilar lead the Bears this season with a goal and two points a piece.

Defensively the Bears are led by goalie Jackie Jasper. Jasper has a record of 1-1 allowing only one goal on the season for a 0.50 goals against average. Jasper has made seven saves and recorded one shutout this season.

The Bears lead the all-time series against the Redhawks, 4-2. In their match up last season the Bears handed the Redhawks the first of only three losses on the season. The Bears Jenna Laughlin tallied the game’s only goal in the eighth minute of the first half for the 1-0 victory at Plaster Field in Springfield Missouri. Redhawks goal tender Lindsay Pickering recorded four saves.