SOUTHEAST WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM TO PLAY AT KIEL CENTER

Considering that she does much of her recruiting in the St. Louis area, Southeast Missouri State University women's soccer coach Heather Nelson figures playing an exhibition game at the Kiel Center can do nothing but further help spread the program's word.

The Otahkians and Eastern Illinois will square off in a 60-minute match Friday, prior to a National Professional Soccer League game between the St. Louis Ambush and Wichita Wings.

The Southeast/EIU game will begin at 4 p.m., with the Ambush/Wings contest set for a 7:35 p.m. start.

"It's a very good opportunity for our program," said Nelson.

Many of the players on Southeast's inaugural women's soccer team last fall were from the St. Louis area and Nelson figures St. Louis will continue to provide a large portion of the Otahkians' roster in the future.

"Probably 75 percent of our recruiting class will come from there," she said. "To get this kind of exposure in St. Louis is very good for our program."

Playing an indoor soccer game -- which features six players to a side at one time -- will present a unique challenge for the Otahkians, who are used to playing the outdoor version of the sport.

"We'll definitely have to prepare differently because the game is so different," said Nelson. "The game is so fast. But we worked out (indoors) for the first time (last week) and the girls loved it.

"The spring season is real casual. With a fairly small roster, the opportunity to play six-on-six is real nice."

According to Nelson, women's college soccer teams are allowed to play five spring exhibition games (the official women's soccer season is held in the fall). She said the Ambush organization is trying to invite as many area squads as possible to play exhibitions at Kiel Center prior to Ambush games.

"I think what they're doing to promote the sport is really good," she said.

Ambush officials said they would like to make an exhibition game featuring Southeast a yearly event and plans for next season include halftime performances by the Golden Eagles Marching Band and the school's spirit group, the Sundancers.