Redhawks struggle at home, finish non-conference schedule winless

On a smoldering hot day on the pitch, the SEMO women’s soccer team fell to Missouri Valley Conference member the Indiana State Sycamores by a score of 3-0 on Sunday at Houck Stadium. SEMO’s record against Larry Bird’s alma mater was three wins to no losses and a draw before the match.

The Redhawks finish the home games of the non-conference schedule at 0-3 and will travel to Missouri to take on the Tigers, and head to Miami where Florida Atlantic and Florida International await before returning to Cape Girardeau to begin the Ohio Valley Conference schedule.

For the first 30 minutes of the game, SEMO and Indiana State split possession with each team having one shot on goal. The Sycamores took over the final 15 minutes of the first half with two goals in 11 minutes.

In the 30th minute, Indiana State’s Autumn Fairfax headed in a ball off one of the Sycamores' 10 total corner kicks. The second came in the 41st minute when Indiana State’s Mackenzie Kent had a wide-open breakaway and slotted the ball past the outstretched arm of SEMO’s goalkeeper, Madison Geisler.

Indiana State continued to hold possession for most of the first half and, in the 52nd minute, added their third and final goal when Kent scored again. The Sycamores outshot the Redhawks 16 to nine, doubled SEMO’s shots on goal, and had two fewer fouls than the Redhawks.

Geisler managed five saves to hold the Sycamores to just three goals while Indiana State’s Maddie Alexander saved five of the Redhawks' shots. SEMO had a flurry of shots throughout the final 10 minutes but could not find the back of the net.

The Redhawks will host the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. for the first OVC game of the year.