SEMO soccer draws on senior day

The Semo Women’s Soccer team played their last regular-season game on Sunday at Houck Stadium which resulted in a 0-0 draw with the UT Martin Skyhawks. This result gives the Redhawks the seventh seed in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

The Redhawks and Skyhawks were neck-and-neck in the OVC standings all season and the match showed why. Both teams were equal or close to it in every category, with SEMO having two more saves and Martin having two more shots on goal.

Southeast needed a win or a draw to cement their spot in the tournament, something head coach Heather Nelson said made them a little emotional to start.

“It was a really emotional day, to be honest. I think we took a little bit of time getting settled in because our emotions were so high, but I felt like as the game went on, we started to be more of who we are,” Nelson said. “As the game opened up we started to create more chances.”

The first half was the half for the Skyhawks as they took five shots and created chances off their three corner kicks. The defense of the Redhawks stood strong, clearing several dangerous balls and when one got through sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink was able to save it each time.

Knowing the team needed a win or draw, Elfrink said the most important thing today was to try and stay calm.

“I was just trying to stay calm and keep everyone on the field level headed so we could make sure to play our game,” Elfrink said. “It's not scary, but nerve-wracking getting into the last 15 at 0-0, so I was just trying to keep a level head and make sure my line and I stayed connected.”

The first round of the OVC tournament begins on Friday, Oct. 27, and the seventh-seeded Redhawks will travel to Edwardsville, IL to take on the sixth-seeded Eastern Illinois Panthers. Nelson said the team will enjoy senior day and then tackle the film room to fix everything they can before the tournament.

“We'll be looking at a lot of video and do the best we can to take care of the next thing in front of us, which is the postseason,” Nelson said.