NELSON TO KICK START SE SOCCER

A native of Canada with a solid coaching background has been named to start up the new women's soccer program at Southeast Missouri State University.

Heather Nelson, head coach at Florida State the past four seasons, was announced Tuesday as Southeast's first women's soccer coach.

"I'm really excited about starting the women's soccer program at Southeast Missouri," said Nelson. "Southeast has an outstanding women's athletic program and I expect our soccer program to develop into a contender in the Ohio Valley Conference.

"The first couple of years may be a little rough, but with the great soccer programs in St. Louis and the increasing popularity of the sport in the area, we will build a good program at Southeast."

Nelson is a former Canadian National Team player. Prior to taking over the Florida State program in 1995, she served as a staff coach with the Canadian National Team from 1992-94. She also served in several other coaching capacities in Canada after finishing up her playing career at the University of Saskatchewan in 1987.

"We are happy to be able to attract an experienced Division I coach to start our women's soccer program," said Lana Richmond, Southeast's senior women's administrator. "Coach (Nelson) has national recruiting contacts and is an experienced coach and player who should give our new program instant recognition."

Nelson said she is recruiting both junior college and freshmen athletes for next fall's team that will compete in the OVC.

"We need the college experience of some good junior college players and we're looking for quality freshmen with speed to come in and help us next year and in the future," she said.