Redhawks end scoreless game with goal late in second OT

Southeast defeated Memphis on a Nicole Bussman goal.

Southeast Missouri State's women's soccer team finally scored a goal Sunday night -- and it couldn't have been more timely or thrilling.

Freshman Nicole Bussman beat Memphis keeper Isabel Briones to a loose ball and lofted a 30-yarder from a bad angle into the net with 48 seconds left in the second overtime, lifting the Redhawks to a 1-0 victory.

The Redhawks improved to 5-2-1 with the nonconference triumph at Houck Stadium. The Tigers fell to 6-3.

"Memphis is an excellent team, and this is a huge win for us," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said.

Southeast was coming off a 0-0 tie with Eastern Illinois in its Ohio Valley Conference opener Friday night, as neither team scored in 110 minutes of play.

It looked like that would again be the case Sunday, as the squads went through 90 minutes of regulation without a goal, and also the first 10-minute sudden-death overtime period.

With time winding down in the second and final 10-minute extra session, Bussman came through with her third goal of the season, shot from near the right sideline. It was unassisted.

"She [Briones] came out a ways, but I wasn't surprised," Bussman said. "I just had to stay calm and composed. I was just aiming for a goal and I was excited it went in.

"This is a big win. We did an excellent job and fought hard."

Memphis had two prime first-half scoring chances, but Southeast keeper Lindsay Pickering made big saves both times, including a diving stop midway through the period.

"Lindsay has performed exceptionally well for us," Nelson said. "That first save, wow."

Memphis wound up with a 13-5 edge in shots as Pickering made five saves in her fifth shutout of the season. The Redhawks had an 11-6 advantage in corner kicks.

"They dominated us in the first half, but things evened out in the second half. I think our fitness showed up," Nelson said. "I thought we created more scoring opportunities than Friday night."

The Redhawks return to OVC action Friday when Austin Peay visits Houck Stadium for a 7 p.m. match.

"This should really give us a big lift as we get ready for another conference game," Nelson said.