SEMO soccer draws with Evansville

The SEMO women’s soccer team clashed with the Purple Aces of Evansville on Thursday in a defensive battle ending in a 0-0 draw. This is the third different result in as many games for the Redhawks who have begun the season 1-1-1.

The first half of the game was all Evansville as the Aces had more shots and shots on goal while fouling less than the Redhawks. SEMO head coach Heather Nelson said the Aces came in with a solid offensive game plan.

“Mostly I thought they were really direct in their play. They had a lot of speed on the right wing and targeted that defender a lot,” Nelson said. “From an offensive standpoint, their attacking was well done.”

The second half flipped in favor of the Redhawks who shot much more than Evansville and defended much better, allowing zero shots on goal. Both goalkeepers had a good night, not conceding a single goal. Nelson commended her defensive line for keeping sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink from having to work too hard.

“Credit to the entire defensive line, only allowing one shot on goal,” Nelson said. “I would say our effort on a really hot and humid night to get numbers back was for the most part done pretty well.”

In the first-half barrage that was the Evansville offense, Elfrink did have to make a save when the Aces flipped the field quickly. Elfrink said she used the opposing coach’s directions to figure out what she should do.

“I heard their coach a lot of times saying to play over the top,” Elfrink said. “So I was trying to get my defense to hold the high line and pull them offsides or working on my step to drop back to cover on balls over the top.”

SEMO goes on the road to SIU on Sunday at 1 p.m. to take on the Salukis and will return to Houck on Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. to take on Columbia College.