Redhawks selected to finish first in OVC

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team is favored to repeat as Ohio Valley Conference champion.

Monday's announcement of the OVC preseason poll saw the Redhawks dominate with 16 first-place votes and 128 points.

Murray State received the other two first-place nods and 104 points based on voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Southeast went 12-2-3 in 2007, including an 8-0-1 OVC record. The Redhawks followed up their regular-season conference title by winning the league tournament for the second straight year, resulting in their second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

Heather Nelson, entering her 10th season as Southeast's coach, returns four starters and 12 letterwinners from last year.

Sophomore forward Ashley Runion headlines the returning regulars as she was the 2007 OVC freshman of the year after leading the league with 27 points and ranking second with 11 goals.

Eastern Illinois and Tennessee-Martin tied for third in the nine-team league's preseason poll with 85 points.

Southeast opens the regular season Aug. 22 at home against St. Louis University.

Prior to that, the Redhawks have three exhibition games beginning today at Indiana State with a 3 p.m. start.

Southeast's final two exhibitions will be at home, Friday against Arkansas State and Sunday against Missouri-St. Louis. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.