OTAHK SOCCER TEAM FORCED TO CANCEL EXHIBITION GAME WITH PREP STANDOUTS

Southeast Missouri State University's women's soccer team was hoping to take a break from official play Saturday night to face some of the top young talent in Southeast Missouri.

But a planned exhibition game at Houck Stadium against the River Eagle Club team has been canceled. The contest was to serve as a fund raiser for the fledgling Southeast program and Otahkian coach Heather Nelson hoped to make it an annual event.

The game was canceled because the River Eagle team does not have enough players to field a competitive team due to Missouri State High School Activities Association rules that do not allow the squad to add additional players at this time.

"I am disappointed that we won't be playing, but we certainly don't want anyone breaking MSHSAA rules," said Nelson. "I had hoped this event would showcase the best soccer talent in Southeast Missouri and serve as a real treat for area soccer fans. Hopefully we can stage this type of event next season."

Southeast will now be idle until Sept. 19, when the Otahkians play at Western Illinois.

The Otahkians are off to an 0-3 start in their inaugural season of play but Nelson is not disappointed.

"We've played some very good teams," she said. "Our lack of depth with a young program is hurting us, but I still feel we can be very competitive in the (Ohio Valley) conference."

Southeast has played only non-league matches so far, losing to Drury 3-2 in overtime, to Southwest Missouri 5-1 and to Illinois State 4-0. All three games were on the road.

Volleyball team in tourney

Southeast's volleyball squad is also winless on the season at 0-4 but that is not totally unexpected, considering the caliber of the opposition.

After dropping their opener to defending Sun Belt Conference champion Arkansas State at home, the Otahkians lost all three matches in the Colorado State Tournament. Two of the defeats were against nationally-ranked Colorado State and Loyola Marymount.

The Otahkians will look to break into the win column when they compete today and Saturday at the University of Missouri Tiger Invitational in Columbia.

Southeast will play East Carolina today, then take on New Mexico State and Missouri Saturday.

Krista Haukap of the Otahkians was named to the all-tournament team at Colorado State last weekend. In three matches, she had 35 kills, 24 digs and four block assists.

During the tournament, Angie Aschoff became the seventh Otahkian player to join the 1,000-kill club.

Golf squad hosts tournament

Southeast's golf team will open its 1999 fall season by hosting the Drury Intercollegiate Tournament Monday and Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

The tournament, sponsored by Drury Inns, will feature 17 collegiate teams. They will have practice rounds Sunday, with the opening round of the tourney beginning at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Joining Southeast in the field will be Creighton, Southern Illinois, Murray State, Austin Peay, Evansville, Tennessee-Martin, St. Louis, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Illinois State, Missouri-Kansas City, Morehead State, Southwest Missouri, Belmont, Chicago State and Eastern Illinois.

Southeast will have two teams in the tournament. The top squad will feature senior Jason Owen and freshman David Fulton, who both qualified for last month's United States Amateur Championship.