Southeast Missouri State roundup: Redhawks soccer team earns OVC sportsmanship award

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team displayed plenty of class while winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title this year.

Southeast was announced Thursday as the recipient of the OVC's 2011-12 Team Sportsmanship Award for women's soccer.

The team awards, which are voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports, are bestowed upon the conference squads deemed to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans.

This is the first such honor for Southeast soccer since the OVC established the awards seven years ago.

Southeast went 12-6-1 overall and 8-1 in OVC play this season.

"I'm excited for the players to be recognized with this honor," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said in a release. "I feel it is especially meaningful given the all-encompassing involvement of student-athletes and their coaches in the process."

Track and field

The Southeast track and field program will open its indoor season this weekend at the Arkansas State Kickoff Classic today and the SIU-Carbondale Saluki Fast Start Meet on Saturday.

Southeast teams won't compete again until Jan. 13 at the SIU-Carbondale Invitational.

-- From staff reports