Pickering notches 24th shutout in win over Govs

~ Southeast improved to 3-0 in OVC play.

The Ohio Valley Conference's all-time leader in shutouts added to her total Friday.

Lindsay Pickering has enjoyed few nights with so little action -- not that she was complaining.

Pickering was called on to make five saves -- all of them fairly routine -- as Southeast dominated play during a 2-0 home win over Austin Peay.

The Redhawks (6-2-1, 3-0) remained tied for first place in the OVC after outshooting Austin Peay (5-6, 0-2) 22-5.

"That's the way I like it," Pickering said of her relatively leisurely evening at Houck Stadium. "It means the team played really well in front of me."

Pickering, a senior, recorded her fourth shutout of the season and 24th of her three-year collegiate career.

On Sunday, Pickering broke the OVC's all-time shutout record. Tiffany Groene of Eastern Illinois held the previous mark with 22.

"It's definitely something I'm proud of," Pickering said. "I didn't expect it.

"But I'm definitely not doing it on my own. A goalie can't have success if the defense isn't playing well."

Pickering didn't expect to be the OVC's all-time shutout leader primarily because she didn't come to Southeast as a soccer player. Although Pickering was a standout keeper at St. Charles West High School, she entered Southeast as a softball player.

She didn't think she was ready to be a two-sport athlete right away, even though the soccer coaching staff approached her about also playing that sport.

"I thought it would be best just to play softball at first while I got used to college," she said.

After leading the Redhawks softball team with a .343 batting average as a sophomore in 2005, Pickering decided it was time she gave soccer another try.

"When you get that opportunity, you take it," said Pickering, who was a four-year starter in center field for the Redhawks while batting .308 over her career and earning all-OVC honors. "It's worked out well for me."

And for the soccer program.

Pickering was the OVC defender of the year and first-team all-OVC during her rookie soccer season in 2005, and last year she made second-team all-OVC as the Redhawks earned their first NCAA tournament berth.

"We actually wanted Lindsay to play for us right away. She's been a great addition to the program," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said. "The record is a great accomplishment, especially when you consider she's only had three seasons.

"She is such a great leader. She's as steady as it comes."

In addition to being a two-sport star -- she completed her softball eligibility this past spring -- Pickering has excelled in the classroom. She is a Southeast Scholar Athlete and a member of the dean's list who is majoring in elementary education with an eye on coaching and teaching.

"It's really amazing all that Lindsay has accomplished," Nelson said.

As for Friday's game, freshman Ashley Runion scored her team-high seventh goal of the season 10 minutes into the first half, with an assist from Courtney Alexander.

"Ashley is having a great season," Nelson said. "She has a nose for the goal and she is very coachable."

Despite having virtually all of the night's prime scoring opportunities -- and plenty of them -- Southeast added just one more goal, with about 11 minutes left in the second half as Nicole Bussman scored unassisted.

The Redhawks have won four straight for their longest winning streak since 2002.

Southeast hosts Tennessee Tech at 2 p.m. Sunday.