Oct. 31, 2005

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Fresh from two non-conference wins last week, the Southeast Missouri State University women's soccer team opens Ohio Valley Conference tournament play by hosting Jacksonville State on Tuesday, 7 p.m., at Houck Stadium.

The Redhawks enter post-season play with a record of 12-5-2. A win over Jacksonville State would send Southeast to the tourney semi-finals in Charleston, Ill., where they would face Eastern Illinois at 10 a.m. on Friday morning. The tournament championship game, in Charleston at 12-noon on Sunday, will be televised nationally by ESPN U.

"We just need to play our game," said Southeast coach Heather Nelson. "I feel like we are peaking at the right time and if we play our game we are capable of beating anybody in the conference tournament. We have some nagging injuries, but I expect everybody to be ready to play on Tuesday night."

Jacksonville State enters tournament play as the number six seed with an overall record of 8-8-2. Southeast beat the Gamecocks 2-1 during the regular season.

"Jacksonville State has a solid squad with good speed," Nelson said. "We have to make sure they don't get behind our defense on breakaways. I like the way our team is playing right now. I thought our 2-0 win over South Dakota State last Friday was our best game of the season."