Southeast Missouri State soccer team claims first OVC win with 5-0 blasting of EIU

The Southeast Missouri State soccer team unleashed 23 shots in a 5-0 victory over Eastern Illinois as the Redhawks recorded their first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season Sunday at Houck Stadium.

Southeast junior midfielder Natasha Minor scored the only two goals of the first half before leaving with an injury in the 13th minute. Her goals came a minute apart, giving the Redhawks a 2-0 lead six minutes into the contest. The first came on a pass from sophomore Paige Blankenheim off a free kick, and the second on a cross pass from junior Angie Mann.

Mann, a forward, scored her-team leading sixth goal to open the second-half scoring on a pass from Blankenheim. Eastern added an own goal before freshman defender Maddi Karstens capped the scoring with her first goal as a Redhawk in the 76th minute. Sophomore Shelby Beussink assisted on the play.

Southeast Missouri State's Angie Mann, left, and Eastern Illinois' Kayla Stolfa chase the ball during the first half Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

"This was entirely a team effort for us today and I couldn't be more proud of every member in our program,"Southeast coach Heather Nelson said in a press release. "Our starters went out and started the day off right. We're battling some health problems and injuries right now but we had players rotate in and step up."

The Redhawks (6-3-2 overall, 1-0-1 OVC) put 12 shots on goal.

The Panthers (2-8-1, 0-2) had four shots in the game, with Redhawks sophomore goalkeeper Kindra Lierz making two saves. Freshman Alyssa Sickler played the final 11 minutes to complete the shutout.

Southeast Missouri State midfielder Natasha Minor celebrates after pushing the ball past Eastern Illinois goalkeeper Maddie Lyon for the second goal of the game during the first half Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast returns to conference action Friday against Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tennessee.