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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The road became a friendlier place for the Southeast Missouri soccer team on Friday afternoon.

After scoring only two combined goals while starting 0-5-1 away from Houck Stadium, the Redhawks (5-9-4, 4-3-2 Ohio Valley) erupted for a 5-1 win at Tennessee Tech.

Kasey Crowden scored two goals and Torey Byrd scored two goals apiece and Hayley Abbott struck once to lead the Redhawks. A UT Martin victory over Jacksonville State later in the evening officially clinched a Southeast berth in next week's OVC Tournament. Southeast sits in a fourth-place tie in the standings with SIU Edwardsville, the top six teams qualify for the postseason tournament.

Southeast opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Paige Luehmann's shot caromed off the goal post. The rebound found Byrd, who booted the ball into the net for her team-leading fourth goal of the season, all of which have come in OVC play.

That tally was the lone marker in the first half as the Redhawks took a lead into halftime for the second time this season. Byrd's goal also marked the fourth time Southeast opened the scoring.

Southeast wasted little time adding to its lead in the second half. Crowden blasted a shot from the top of the box into the bottom corner of the net for her first career goal in the 48th minute. Jenna Collingridge earned her first career point with an assist on the play.

It took only 26 seconds for the Redhawks to up their lead to three goals as Abbott headed in a long throw-in from Amy Ward to make it a 3-0 contest. That goal was Abbott's second of the season.

“We created good opportunities in the first half but didn't finish enough,” Southeast head coach Heather Nelson said. “We did a great job in the second half finishing those opportunities in the second half. Kasey and Hayley got us off to a great start scoring in the first five minutes of the second half.”

The Golden Eagles (5-11-1, 3-6-0 OVC) spoiled Renee Kertz' shutout bid in the 65th minute when Jacquie Watkins knocked in a crossing feed from Kris Cambron, drawing TTU back to within two goals.

Undeterred, Southeast went right back on the attack and regained its three-goal cushion two minutes later when Abbott set Crowden up in front of a wide open net for her second goal of the match to make it 4-1.

“We spent a little time with Kasey making sure that she is as technical as possible striking the ball,” Nelson said. She has been dangerous in a lot of games, but her shots were around the crossbar. She hit a post earlier and was unlucky for that not going in. The first goal was driven low to the far post and the second goal she dribbled in on the keeper and was calm on the ball and touched it into the goal. She made the best of her opportunities today.”

Byrd scored her second goal of the contest on assists from Jacey Boyko and Ashley Brendel with 1:14 left to cap the scoring.

“Torey got her goals off of hard work,” Nelson said. “She also did a great job in the air in midfield. She was the most dominant player on both sides in the air today.”

The Redhawks outshot the Golden Eagles, 18-11, and held a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks. Kertz made four saves to help extend Southeast's unbeaten streak to four matches (3-0-1).

The Redhawks close out their regular season at Jacksonville State on Sunday at 1 p.m.