Redhawks suffer first loss vs. Missouri State

~ Southeast lost 1-0 on its home field Sunday.

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Sunday afternoon as Missouri State posted a 1-0 victory at Houck Stadium.

Southeast, which beat visiting Arkansas-Little Rock by a similar score in its only previous game, fell to 1-1. The Bears from Springfield, Mo. improved to 3-2.

Lindsay Pickering, Southeast's junior goalkeeper who is the reigning Ohio Valley Conference defensive player of the year, did all she could to give the Redhawks a chance in a game that saw the Bears have many more good scoring opportunities.

Pickering was credited with eight saves, several of them impressive stops, including a first-half breakaway by the Bears.

But Missouri State finally broke through with 23:48 remaining in the second half as Samantha Aguilar headed home a corner kick from Caroline Hooker.

The Redhawks pressed the attack after that and had several solid chances but never really were able to test Bears keeper Jackie Jasper, who was credited with only two saves.

Missouri State held a 14-7 edge in shots, including 10-2 in the first half.

"I thought she [Pickering] was very strong today," Missouri State coach Rob Brewer said. "She stopped a couple of breakaways that we normally finish. She played well."

Southeast returns to action Friday with a 4 p.m. game against DePaul in Chicago. The Redhawks' next home game will be at 1 p.m. Sunday against Troy.