SE opens OVC tourney with win over Murray St.

Interest in Southeast Missouri State University women's soccer continues to grow -- and the Otahkians are giving their fans plenty to cheer about.

Playing in front of the largest crowd in the four-year history of Ohio Valley Conference women's soccer, the top-seeded, host Otahkians knocked off fourth-seeded Murray State 2-0 Friday night in the opening round of the OVC Tournament.

The Houck Stadium crowd of 825 saw the OVC regular-season champion Otahkians improve their record to 16-1 as they rolled into the tournament championship game, set for 2 p.m. Sunday. Southeast's opponent will be second-seeded Eastern Illinois, a 4-1 winner over No. 3 Tennessee Tech in Friday's tourney opener.

"Our crowds have been great all year," said Southeast coach Heather Nelson. "I hope we can break the record Sunday."

Southeast, a third-year program, posted its 13th consecutive home victory Friday night. Over that span, the Otahkians have outscored the opposition 39-0.

"We love playing at home," said freshman Marla Gianino, who scored one of the Otahkians' goals. "The crowd really gets us fired up."

Said freshman Katie Huelsing, who scored the Otahkians' other goal, "We love it at home. Our fans are awesome."

The Otahkians had knocked off Murray State (8-9-2) 4-0 at home last Sunday to finish off their first OVC regular-season championship with a perfect conference record, but Nelson knew things would not be nearly so easy in the rematch.

"Murray State came out strong. That's part of tournament play. Everybody has a lot of energy," said Nelson. "I thought Guch held us in there early."

Southeast goalkeeper Beth Guccione, the OVC Player of the Year, was kept busy in the early going as the Racers had several decent chances.

But it wasn't long before the Otahkians took control. Just 5:32 into the contest, Huelsing scored her first collegiate goal, an unassisted tally from about 25 yards out as she blasted a shot into the upper left corner of the net.

"I had a good feeling all day I was going to score. I never get that feeling," said Huelsing with a grin.

Gianino gave the Otahkians some breathing room at the 35:23 mark of the opening half with her ninth goal of the season, on a free kick from just outside the penalty area. She blasted a shot over the defense and into the upper part of the net.

Guccione made four saves in recording her 13th shutout of the season. Southeast held an 18-6 edge in shots.

Now the Otahkians will gear up for OVC runner-up Eastern Illinois, which lost to Southeast during the regular season 1-0 in Charleston, Ill. Sunday's winner earns a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"They're a good team and that's the way it should work out, with the top two teams (in the league) playing," Nelson said.

EIU 4, Tenn. Tech 1

The Panthers (13-5) scored three times off corner kicks as they eliminated the defending OVC tourney champion Eaglettes (12-7).

Rachel Dorfman scored her second and third goals of the season for Eastern Illinois, which led 3-0 at halftime. Cara LeMaster tallied her sixth goal of the year while Audra Frericks added her second.

For Tech, OVC Freshman of the Year Robyn Vince scored her 10th goal of the season.