Southeast Missouri State soccer team gains inside track on OVC title

It would be hard to imagine the Southeast Missouri State soccer team having a better afternoon.

Southeast exploded for a season-high four goals -- all in the first half -- and routed Eastern Illinois 4-0 on Sunday in the Redhawks' final regular-season home match.

"It was really awesome. It feels great to get a lead like that," senior Stephanie Palmer said.

Then the news got even better for the Redhawks.

Tennessee-Martin and Morehead State -- squads that were immediately above Southeast in the Ohio Valley Conference standings -- both lost, meaning that with one regular-season contest left the Redhawks have their OVC fate in their hands.

Southeast Missouri State forward Amy Ward works to get past Eastern Illinois defender Emily Wolf during the first half Sunday at Houck Stadium. Southeast won 4-0. (Adam Vogler)

Southeast is now second in the 11-team league, just one point behind Tennessee-Martin (squads receive three points for a win and one point for a tie in conference play).

The Redhawks end the regular season Friday at Tennessee-Martin in a 7 p.m. match. If the Redhawks win, they capture the OVC regular-season title and will host next week's six-team conference tournament.

Defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion Tennessee-Martin needs only a tie to claim the crown and serve as tourney host.

"It's really exciting," senior keeper Ashton Aubuchon said. "We want to have some more home games."

The Redhawks finished the regular season undefeated at Houck Stadium, going 6-0-1. They won their final six home matches, outscoring the opposition 12-1.

More importantly for the Redhawks, they continue to build momentum heading into the postseason.

Southeast, with its fourth straight win, improved to 8-5-3 overall and 6-1-2 in OVC play. The Redhawks are 8-1-2 in their last 11 matches.

"We have been practicing hard, knowing what we need to work on," said junior Kasey Crowden, a Jackson High School graduate who scored her first two goals of the season. "We're just working as a team, staying positive and picking each other up."

Southeast coach Heather Nelson said it's a tribute to her players that they have bounced back from a tough start against a rugged nonconference schedule.

"I'm very impressed, with such a young team, to see how far they've come," Nelson said.

Nelson certainly was impressed by the explosion that took place Sunday.

The Redhawks had not scored more than two goals in any game this season. They doubled that total in the opening half against EIU.

"It was beautiful watching us today. They were on fire," Nelson said. "We are a fun team to watch when we are at our best, which we were today. We have so much depth and I am not sure who will be the difference maker in a given match. That's a good thing for us because opponents can't key in on just one player."

EIU (6-12, 6-3) had the best early chance to score as a corner kick was headed just wide.

Southeast dominated the rest of the way.

Junior Breana Beine got Southeast on the board as she continued her recent hot play with her second goal of the season. She also has three assists, all the damage from the Evansville transfer coming in the past couple of weeks.

"She's been on fire," Nelson said.

Freshman Natasha Minor broke down her defender and slipped the ball across to Beine right in front of the net. She buried the shot.

It was the team-leading fourth assist of the season for Minor, who is tied for the team lead with four goals.

Southeast didn't waste any time going up 2-0 as Palmer scored her first goal of the season off a corner kick from freshman Jennifer Antonacci with 19:52 left before halftime. Antonacci delivered a ball into the box and Palmer flicked it home.

"Jenny played me a perfect ball," Palmer said.

The Redhawks turned the contest into a rout with Crowden's two goals during a span of 2:39 late in the first half.

Crowden scored unassisted with seven minutes left. She weaved through the defense on the left side and blasted a shot to the far post.

Then Crowden, from point-blank range, tapped in a pass from senior Amy Ward 4:21 before the intermission.

Southeast had several other scoring chances but settled for the four first-half goals. EIU rarely threatened after its early opportunity.

The Redhawks, with the big lead, were able to fully utilize 21 players in the game.

"I think all the things we've been working on all season have come together," Palmer said. "I think we've become more of a team."

The Redhawks finished with a 16-4 advantage in shots, 11-1 during the first half. They also had a 10-1 edge in corner kicks.

Aubuchon recorded two saves for her seventh shutout of the season and 22nd of her career, second in program history behind Southeast assistant coach Lindsay Pickering's 28.

Aubuchon broke the school's career saves record that had been held by Pickering during Friday's 1-0 win over SIU Edwardsville.

The Redhawks, after celebrating senior night Friday, were able to send their four seniors -- Aubuchon, Palmer, Ward and Jacey Boyko -- out with a victory in their final regular-season home match.

"They've been fantastic for us," Nelson said. "All around, they've done everything we've asked them to do when we talk about being students first."