SE SOCCER SUFFERS 3-0 LOSS TO SMS

Southeast Missouri State University's women's soccer team probably had more good scoring opportunities than Southwest Missouri State yet the Otahkians suffered a 3-0 home loss Friday night.

Such is the fickle sport of soccer, where the winner is often not who plays the best but who can capitalize the most.

The Bears from Springfield capitalized three times, thus they were able to prevail in front of 345 fans at Houck Stadium.

Southwest, which has played a murderous schedule so far, improved its record to 4-7 while Southeast fell to 4-2-1.

"I don't feel the score indicates what type of game it was," said Southeast coach Heather Nelson. "I'm proud of what we did. I thought we used the field really well."

Southwest coach Rob Brewer acknowledged that the game was a lot more competitive than the score indicates and he had plenty of praise for the Otahkians, who were routed by the Bears 5-1 last year during Southeast's inaugural season of women's soccer.

"It was a very good game," Brewer said. "Our goalie played well and we needed her to. They made a real good run at us after we got the first goal. They're much improved since last year and they'll win a lot of games, I'm sure."

The Otahkians actually held a 17-11 edge in shots, but Southwest goalkeeper Jennifer Grocki made several dazzling saves as she was without a doubt one of her team's top stars. Grocki was credited with six saves.

"Their goalie made some very good saves," Nelson said.

The Bears broke on top just under 21 minutes into the game as Stacy Smolarcyk blasted a wicked 20-yard shot past Southeast keeper Tami Hebert.

"That was a great shot and we needed it," said Brewer.

Southeast had the two best chances over the remainder of the first half. With nine minutes left, Nichole Thiele's rocket of a shot from 25 yards out was smothered by a diving Grocki.

Then, with only seconds remaining before the intermission, Erika Todd blasted one from 25 yards away, but Grocki again made a diving save.

"If that last one goes in, then you never know what might happen," said Brewer.

A little more than 10 minutes into the second half, the Bears made it 2-0 as April Lee scored from 10 yards out. Southwest scored its final goal with just over three minutes left as Ann-Marie Russell converted from in close.

"If we had gotten one goal (after Southwest went ahead 1-0), we'd have been in good shape," Nelson said. "But when they got the second goal, that really made it tough on us. They're a good team."

The Otahkians will have an exhibition fundraiser game Sunday when they play the local Southeast Missouri Soccer Club at 2 p.m. at Houck Stadium.

Southeast's next official match will be Sept. 29 when the Otahkians open Ohio Valley Conference play at Tennessee Tech.