Redhawks rejoin title hunt with 2-1 victory

Southeast's victory over Jacksonville State loomed larger after a loss by OVC-leading Eastern Illinois.

Southeast Missourian

Lisa Schweppe said she works on the shot during every practice -- but she might have surprised even herself by how well she pulled it off in a game situation.

Schweppe, a senior forward, scored on a free kick from 20 yards out midway through the second half Friday night, lifting Southeast Missouri State past visiting Jacksonville State 2-1.

Despite a wall of defenders in front of her, Schweppe blasted a rocket of a shot that got over the wall and just underneath the cross bar with 19 minutes, 10 seconds remaining.

"Every practice I work on it, but to see it work like that was great," Schweppe said. "I think it hit the wall, but since it had so much power, it dropped in."

Schweppe also scored the Redhawks' first goal early in the contest, and she now has a team-high six this season.

"She had a great night," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said.

It was a great night in general for the Redhawks, who improved to 9-3-1 overall and 4-1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Because of an Eastern Illinois loss earlier in the day, Southeast regained control of its own destiny as it chases an OVC regular-season title.

Southeast and Eastern Illinois, who earlier this year played to a 0-0 deadlock, are tied for second in the 10-team OVC with 13 points (teams get three points for a win and one point for a tie).

Murray State is first with 15 points, but the Racers have played one more game than both Southeast and Eastern Illinois.

The Redhawks have three OVC matches remaining -- including one against Murray State -- and if they win them all, then can do no worse than finish in a first-place tie.

"It was great Eastern lost, and now we just have to keep winning, and maybe they'll lose again," Schweppe said.

Although the Redhawks can still win the regular-season championship, an upset loss at Morehead State last week cost the Redhawks a chance to host the OVC Tournament.

That honor normally goes to the regular-season winner, but this year's tournament title contest is being televised by ESPNU, and the network needed to know early where that broadcast will originate from.

So the OVC deemed that the first-place team after five conference games would earn the host spot, which turned out to be Eastern Illinois. Southeast would have gotten into a coin flip with the Panthers if it had beaten Morehead State.

"We would have loved to host, but it would still be great if we could finish first," Nelson said. "But there are still three tough matches left."

The Redhawks went ahead 1-0 just 9:56 into Friday's contest as senior Ashley DeRoy made an impressive run down the left side, beating several defenders along the way. She faked out keeper Amanda Stephens, then fed Schweppe in front for an easy goal.

"Ashley made a great play," Schweppe said.

Jacksonville State tied it less than 6 minutes later on a goal by Christina Balint.

Southeast outshot the Gamecocks (6-7-1, 3-3) 11-5, including 7-2 in a the second half.

"We really took it to them the second half," Schweppe said.

The Redhawks host two-time defending OVC regular-season champion Samford (9-3-2, 4-2) at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Bulldogs are right behind Southeast with 12 points.

"That's always a great match," Nelson said.