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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri State soccer team honored its six seniors before ending the regular season on a high note in Sunday's 3-0 victory over Tennessee Tech at Houck Stadium.

Jessie Crabtree, Hayley Abbott and Torey Byrd each found the back of the net as the Ohio Valley Conference champion Redhawks enter next week's OVC Tournament with a 12-5-1 overall record and an 8-1 mark in league matches.

Prior to the contest, the Redhawks celebrated the careers of seniors Lauren Bozesky, Crabtree, Nikki Edwards, Shona Goodwin, Vanessa Hart and Taylor Thomas.

It took just under 10 minutes for Southeast to get on the board as Meg Herndon crossed a ball into the 18-yard box that Tennessee Tech (5-13-1, 2-7 OVC) keeper Becca Toler could not control. The loose ball ended up on Crabtree's foot and she fired a shot into the wide open net for her eighth tally of the year.

The Redhawks dominated statistically in the first half, though Crabtree's goal was the lone marker of the opening frame. Southeast enjoyed an 11-2 edge in shots and a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks in the first 45 minutes of play.

Southeast continued to carry the play in the second half and finally gained some breathing room in the 53rd minute. The play started on a corner kick where TTU appeared ready to clear the ball out. However, the ball caromed off a number of players and ended up near Abbott, who drilled a shot out of midair into the top of the net for her first goal of the year.

With time winding down, Torey Byrd tallied her second career goal in the 78th minute after Toler misplayed a Crabtree centering feed, leading to another tap in goal into an open net. Herndon also assisted on the play, which capped the scoring.

“I thought we moved the ball exceptionally well today,” Southeast head coach Heather Nelson said. “The team played very smart soccer and continued playing the way they have played all year. It was a great day to get everybody some playing time and continue to practice some different formations that we may need to utilize going forward.”
 
The Redhawks outshot the Golden Eagles, 25-5, marking the second consecutive opponent they have held to five shots or less. Southeast also attempted eight corner kicks and did not give up a TTU attempt from the corner.

Ashton Aubuchon notched her second-consecutive solo shutout, her eighth of the year, by making four saves. The Redhawks themselves finish the regular season with 10 shutouts.

Southeast will serve as the host school of the 2011 OVC Soccer Tournament, which begins on Thursday. As the top seed, the Redhawks will have a bye through the quarterfinal round and play the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal match between Murray State and Morehead State on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. CT.