Nov. 2, 2006

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - The pressure will be on when Southeast Missouri State challenges Ohio Valley Conference regular season champion Samford in the OVC Tournament semi-finals on Friday, 7 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala.

The winner will move to the championship game on Sunday that will determine the OVC representative in the NCAA tournament and the loser will be done for the year.

Less than two weeks ago, Southeast and Samford battled to a scoreless tie at Bulldog Field on the Samford campus. "It should be another great matchup," said Southeast coach Heather Nelson. "I think there is a good chance the game will go to overtime or to a penalty shoot out at the end of overtime. We've never beaten Samford, but I like this team's chances. They seem to play much better when under pressure."

The Redhawks, who beat Austin Peay 3-0 to earn the semi-final berth, are seeking their first ever NCAA tournament berth. "Any way you look at the match, it is pretty even," Nelson said. "We both use a 4-3-3 system and we match up well in team speed and technical ability.

"We have to take advantage of our scoring opportunities and we have to minimize our risks on defense. Samford has some very talented forward players."

Southeast failed to land a player on the first team all-OVC. The Redhawks did have four players named second team all-OVC. Goal keeper Lindsay Pickering, defenders Casey Kraft and Jessi Wuellner and midfielder Margie Schaeffler were named to the second unit while freshman Courtney Alexander was named to the OVC all-newcomer team.

Wuellner was also named second team Academic All-District.