Redhawks claim first victory in overtime

~ Southeast women’s soccer team tied Drake late in regulation and won 2-1 in OT

Something figured to give Sunday when Southeast Missouri State and Drake squared off in a women's soccer match in Des Moines, Iowa.

Both teams entered play hungry for their first win of the season -- and Southeast was able to satisfy its appetite with a 2-1 overtime victory.

The Redhawks tied the contest with less than six minutes left in regulation. They then won on a sudden-death goal with just seconds left in the first 10-minute extra session.

Southeast, which had scored only one goal in its first five games, improved to 1-4-1. The Bulldogs fell to 0-6-2.

"We showed a lot of character today," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said in a release. "We had a tough game against a good team on Friday [a 4-0 loss at Illinois State]. To come out two days later and come from behind on the road the way we did took a lot of character and mental toughness."

Drake opened the scoring a little more than 20 minutes into the contest when Brittany Schuling bended a corner kick into the net.

Southeast tied the score with just 5 minutes, 20 seconds left in regulation on a goal by freshman Natasha Minor, who worked around some defenders and blasted a shot from the top of the box. Sophomore Erin Shulman earned an assist.

"That was a huge goal by Tash," Nelson said. "She showed good skill moving around a couple players to create her own shooting angle and hit her shot."

Minor had also scored the Redhawks' only goal of the season before Sunday -- Aug. 25 against Missouri-Kansas City.

Shulman ended the contest when she scored off a pass from Minor with 17 seconds left in the first of what could have been two 10-minute overtime periods.

Minor sprung Shulman behind the Bulldogs' defense. Shulman worked her way around the keeper and scored with a soft touch.

"Tash played a good ball to Erin," Nelson said. "She wasn't at a great angle by the time she reached the keeper, but she did a great job controlling her body and showed good touch with a confident finish."

Drake outshot Southeast 24-14, though the margin was only 12-9 after halftime. Both teams attempted five corner kicks.

Senior keeper Ashton Aubuchon, making her sixth straight start for Southeast, stopped five first-half shots.

Freshman Lauren Meyer relieved Aubuchon in the second half and made nine saves to pick up her first collegiate win.

Sunday represented Southeast's final tuneup before beginning Ohio Valley Conference play Sept. 27 at Murray State.

The Redhawks will have an alumni match Friday at Houck Stadium as the program welcomes back many of its former players. Activities will begin around 7 p.m.

The event will hold extra special meaning as Southeast retires the jersey of the late Meg Herndon during a ceremony.

Herndon was a program stalwart who died during the 2012 season from injuries suffered in a motor scooter accident.