Redhawks ready to build on past success

~ Southeast won the OVC tournament in 2006 to make the NCAA field for the first time.

It's easy to understand why the Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team is so excited about the season.

The Redhawks captured the program's first Ohio Valley Conference tournament title and NCAA tournament berth last year.

Most of the key members from that squad return, including players who scored 37 of the 39 goals. Also back is one of the OVC's premier goalkeepers.

"We are definitely looking forward to the season," senior midfielder Margie Schaeffler said. "I think we will be really strong."

Added senior goalkeeper Lindsay Pickering, "We are very excited. We're looking for a repeat. We have so much experience. The returners are confident, and we have a lot of potential in the freshmen."

Southeast coach Heather Nelson, whose squad plays its first game Friday night against Northwestern (La.) State at Houck Stadium, is as optimistic as her players.

"With so much experience returning, great leadership from the seniors and some freshmen who will help us, ... I have a very good feeling. I am confident we'll do well," she said.

Nelson found it interesting that the 2006 Redhawks actually had their worst regular-season record since she started the program in 1999.

But after having so much success only to repeatedly fall short of an OVC tournament title and NCAA berth, the Redhawks finally broke through last year after starting the season 7-7-2 and ending up seeded fourth in the conference postseason tournament.

"When I look back at last year, we really turned things around late," said Nelson, who has an eight-year Southeast record of 88-45-14, including seven straight winning seasons. "The team really did a good job of coming around."

Southeast won OVC regular-season titles in 2001 and 2002, but lost both times in the league tournament finals.

"It was very satisfying," said Nelson of finally breaking through and reaching the NCAA tournament.

The Redhawks welcome back nine starters and feature seven seniors.

"This is our last season with a lot of seniors and we want to make the most of it," Schaeffler said.

Schaeffler is one of three returning players who made second-team all-OVC last year after she scored four goals and had a team-high six assists. She finished third on the squad with 14 points.

Pickering was an all-OVC second-team choice after ranking second in the OVC with nine shutouts. She was the league's defensive player of the year in 2005.

Rounding out the returning all-conference selections is junior Casey Kraft, who split her time between defense and forward.

Kraft was the OVC tournament MVP as she had three of her season's five goals in the semifinals and championship game.

While the Redhawks have plenty of seniors, their leading scorer from last season is still a youngster.

Sophomore forward Courtney Alexander netted an OVC-best nine goals and added three assists for a team-high 21 points.

"That completely surprised me," said Alexander of leading the squad in scoring.

Senior forward Alaina Lacopo is back after ranking second on the team with 15 points (five goals, five assists).

Junior defender Megan McGrath tied Kraft and Lacopo for second on the squad with five goals, while senior midfielder/defender Blair Schuppan added four goals.

Other returning starters are senior defenders Megan Matter and Lauren Costello. Matter had three assists.

Three more returning letterwinners are junior forward/defender Nicole Bussman, sophomore forward/goalkeeper Rachel Harrington and sophomore forward Lauren Lacopo.

Bussman and Harrington each had two goals, while Lacopo added one goal and four assists.

Added to the mix will be senior midfielder Molli Beard, who was Southeast's top goal-scorer in her first two seasons but has missed most of the past two years with injuries. She missed all of the 2006 season while redshirting.

"It's great to have her back," Nelson said. "She has a knack for scoring goals."

Sophomore defenders Amber Garner and Stephanie Kulavic return after seeing limited action last year, while seven freshmen have been added to the mix.

Nelson said the freshmen most ready to contribute right away are midfielder Vanessa Hart from Australia, who is slated to start the opener, and defender Ashley Runion.