Southeast Missouri State soccer team wins season opener at Illinois State

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team got its season started on the right foot Friday, beating host Illinois State 3-2 in a matchup of squads expected to contend for their respective league titles.

Southeast is picked to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference while ISU is tabbed second in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Senior newcomer Jessie Crabtree, a transfer from Missouri, had two goals in her Southeast debut. Freshman Erin Shulman scored the Redhawks' other goal.

"Our possessions were very good and we created some really dangerous scoring opportunities," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said. "We had an opportunity to pull ahead by two goals late in the game, but their goalkeeper made a great save."

ISU opened the scoring 12 minutes into the first half when Rachel Tejada found the back of the net on a crossing pass from the deep right corner.

Southeast tied the game four minutes later as Crabtree buried a shot off a crossing pass from senior Lauren Bozesky. It was 1-1 at halftime.

The Redbirds regained the lead when Rachel Bostick headed a pass into the back of the net 11 minutes into the second half.

Again the Redhawks came back to forge a tie, this time less than a minute later when Shulman tracked down a free ball and sent it past goalkeeper Aryn Newsom,

Crabtree added her second goal off a penalty kick 15 minutes into the final period to give the Redhawks their first lead at 3-2.

ISU outshot Southeast 15-7. Sophomore goalkeeper Ashton Aubuchon recorded three saves for the Redhawks.

Southeast remains on the road to face Iowa of the Big 10 Conference today.