Southeast Missouri State soccer players Mann, Kaempfe honored by OVC

A pair of newcomers to the Southeast Missouri State soccer team earned all-conference honors at the Ohio Valley Conference's soccer banquet Thursday night in Murray, Kentucky.

Junior transfer Angie Mann and freshman Lauren Kaempfe were named to the all-newcomer team and were second-team all-OVC selections.

"Angie and Lauren are two of the fittest and most resilient players in our program," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said in a press release. "Their mental toughness, inner drive and competitive nature have been critical to our overall team success this season."

The No. 6 Redhawks (8-5-7, 3-2-5 OVC), who knocked off No. 3 Jacksonville State in a shootout Sunday, face No. 2 Tennessee Tech in a semifinal of the OVC tournament at 11 a.m. today at Murray State. The regular-season champion Racers face No. 5 Morehead State at 2 p.m. The championship game is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.

Mann, a Central Michigan transfer, leads Southeast with eight goals, including two game-winners, on the season. She also recorded an assist.

Southeast Missouri State's Lauren Kaempfe dribbles along the sideline against Eastern Illinois Ali Carlson during the first half Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

"Angie has been a brilliant addition to our lineup and I couldn't be happier for her to be recognized as an All-OVC player," Nelson said.

Kaempfe, from Columbia, Illinois, has scored two goals and recorded two assists. She's started 19 of the team's 20 games and leads the team in minutes played with 1,711.

"Lauren has had a fantastic freshman campaign," Nelson said. "Her speed, fitness, versatility and competitive drive have allowed her to play numerous positions in our lineup."

Murray State's Harriet Withers was selected as the OVC's Offensive Player of the Year and Racers coach Jeremy Groves, whose team went 10-0 in conference, was named Coach of the Year.

Tennessee Tech freshman goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann was the Defensive Player of the Year and Morehead State's Abby Timm was the Freshman of the Year.