Aug. 21, 2010
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri State women’s soccer team kicks-off the 2010 season tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Houck Stadium against Belmont University.
This is the ninth time the Redhawks have opened the regular season at home. In home openers, the team has compiled a record of 7-2-2.
In season openers that record improves to 8-1-2. The lone loss was against Missouri State in the 2008 opener.
The Redhawks return 11 letterwinners including nine starters to a team that went 8-7-3 last season. It was the program’s ninth winning season in its 11 year existence. In Ohio Valley Conference play the Redhawks went 2-2-3 and finished seventh in the standings.
In this year’s OVC Preseason Poll the team was picked to repeat that seventh place finish.
Among the returnees are six of the team’s top seven scorers including their two leading goal scorers. Bobbi Jo Schlick led the team with six goals and 13 points as a true freshman. She ranked fourth in the OVC in points and second with four game-winning goals.
Senior Ashley Runion finished second on the club with four goals and 11 points. She led the OVC in shots with 50, garnering her All-OVC Second Team honors.
Hayley Abbott was impressive in her freshman campaign. She finished with two goals and one assist from her defensive position, earning her All-OVC First Team and All-Newcomer accolades.
Juniors Shona Goodwin and Nikki Edwards join Abbott as returning starters on the defensive front.
They will protect goalkeeper Kristen Starkey who excelled last year in the nets as a freshman. She went 7-5-3 with an OVC-leading seven shutouts. Her 0.81 goals against average also led the OVC and ranked fourth on the school’s single season charts.
With the addition of 11 newcomers, head coach Heather Nelson looks to prove the polls wrong. Nelson, the OVC’s winningest coach, begins her 12th season at the helm and looks for her fourth OVC regular season title and third OVC Tournament Championship.
The 2010 schedule features nine home games including tomorrow’s game against Belmont.
REDHAWK REVIEW
The Redhawks went 2-0 during their exhibition season. They defeated Evansville 1-0 last Saturday before defeating McKendree University, 2-0 on Wednesday.
Against the Purple Aces, freshman Signe’ Novak came off the bench in the second half and scored the game’s only goal in the 88th minute. Prep teammate and fellow freshman, Jacey Boyko provided the assist.
All three Redhawk goalies saw action with freshman Jessica Grindstaff receiving the starting nod and recording the team’s only save.
In the teams win over the Bearcats, senior Ashley Runion took a pass from defender Shona Goodwon and blasted a laser into the top-right corner, 5:45 into the game.
Sophomore Courtney Luehmann tallied the team’s final goal on a breakaway, beating the goalie one-on-one in the 84th minute. Boyko recorded her second assist of the exhibition season on Luehmann’s goal.
Freshman Ashton Aubuchon received the start in goal and Grindstaff spelled her in the second period.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
The Bruins return eight letterwinners from a team that went 10-6-4 and finished tied for first in the Atlantic Sun with a league record of 6-1-3. They were originally scheduled to play Mizzou in their season opener on Friday but the game was called due to inclement weather.
The Bruins went 0-1-1 in their exhibition season. They were shutout 1-0 by Samford before tying city rival Vanderbilt 2-2 in their final friendly. Bailey Kimbell and Spencer Laufer accounted for the two Bruin goals.
They were picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun Preseason Polls. Four players garnered All-Conference Preseason honors.
Senior Jayme Trocino led the team with 10 goals and 23 points last season to receive preseason honors.
Senior forward Erica Carter and senior defender Jessica Rix joined Trocino on the Preseason team.
Junior goalkeeper Sari Lin was also named to the team. She recorded nine shutouts and tallied a 0.72 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY
The Redhawks lead the all-time series 2-0 with both games being played in Houck Stadium. Overall the Redhawks hold a 11-0 advantage in goals.
They last faced each other during the 2002 season. The Redhawks recorded an 8-0 win over the visiting Bruins. At the time that was the second-highest offensive output by the Redhawks.
In the two team’s very first meeting in 2001, the Redhawks recorded a 3-0 win in the season-opener.
