Southeast Missouri State soccer team opens OVC action with scoreless tie against SIUE

The Southeast Missouri State and SIU Edwardsville soccer teams picked up Ohio Valley Conference action where they left off at the end of last season when the Redhawks clinched a share of the OVC title with a hard fought win over the Cougars in the regular-season finale.

On Friday night the defending co-champions converged on Houck Stadium for each team's conference opener, which ended in a scoreless tie in double overtime.

The 110-minute game between the teams picked No. 1 and 2 in the OVC preseason poll, and which had recorded more shutouts than any other OVC teams this season, was expected to be a tough test and didn't disappoint.

"They're in it to win it, too," Southeast junior forward Natasha Minor said of the Cougars, who were the OVC tournament champions last year. "They want it just as bad as we do. I think it'll come down to just that little bit more heart and a little bit more desire, and maybe just a smaller, less competitive game, but every minute counts now."

Minor put one shot in the net with 24 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in regulation, but she was ruled offsides on the play.

A Redhawk defender lofted a ball over the SIUE defense and Minor ran onto it from about 10 yards out and sent it low past goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley across the goalline and into the far right corner.

"She got behind the line and did an amazing finish side netting, so for me that would've been picture perfect for us," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said.

Minor said she thought she'd timed her run perfectly to remain even with the Cougars' back line until the ball went past.

"From my viewpoint I really couldn't tell, but I mean, I thought she started her run so far behind the line and it looked like she just got past the defender as the ball arrived," Nelson said. "I don't know. My gut tells me I don't think she was offsides, but I'll need to see it on film. I actually think the officiating crew was very good tonight."

Minor had one of two shots on goal for the Redhawks, who recorded six shots total.

In the 14th minute Minor received a pass near the far sideline and quickly cut in toward the middle of the 18-yard box. Her shot deflected off Pelley's hands and bounced around in the 6-yard box but Southeast was unable to capitalize.

"She created an opportunity very early that we left sitting on the goal line, and that's a crime for us not to have other players crashing that," Nelson said. "But like I said, we're working our way up the field and we can't jump forward. We need to take care of the back first because when they come together the rest of our team will start to flow."

Each team recorded its third consecutive shutout. It was the fifth shutout of the season for Southeast goalkeeper Kindra Lierz and sixth for Pelley and the Cougars.

"I think it was just communication and trusting each other and knowing each other's jobs and just doing it for each other," Southeast defender Christina Rohde said of the defensive effort. "Because we do care for each other so much on and off the field, and just working for each other and not just ourselves."

Lierz made three saves in the second half. Pelley made two saves, but the Redhawks' had a close chance that she didn't have to make a play on.

Junior midfielder Abby Klintworth, who finished with a game-high three shots, had a beatiful header off a corner kick with 32:35 left in regulation, but the ball bounced off the crossbar before it was cleared.

"I swear I turned around and there were like tears in my eyes because I thought it was in the back of the net," Klintworth said. "I looked over and it hit off the crossbar and was like, 'You've got to be kidding me.' I can't say that it wasn't in the back of my head until the end of the game. It sucks, but it's OK."

The Cougars, who have allowed the fewest goals of any conference team with seven, are now 3-4-3 and 0-0-1 in conference.

The Redhawks are now 5-3-2 on the season and 0-0-1 in the OVC. They host Eastern Illinois at 1 p.m. Sunday and currently have an unbeaten streak of four games.

"We knew this was going to be a real gauge of where we're at in the OVC," Nelson said. "With that being said I feel like there's a number of programs that are dark horses, that ... based on their non-conference schedule I think they're going to be very challenging. I've done this for so long it's 'one game at a time.'"