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MARTIN, Tenn. – A Mary Thompson goal in the 67th minute sent the Southeast Missouri soccer team to a 1-0 loss to top-seeded UT Martin in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday.

The win moves UT Martin (12-5-3) to Sunday's championship. Southeast finishes the season 7-10-4 after having its six-match unbeaten streak snapped.

“I thought this was a great game today,” Southeast head coach Heather Nelson said. “It was unfortunate that UT Martin got a goal off a set piece, but this was a competitive game at both ends of the field. I wish UT Martin luck in Sunday's finals.”

The Skyhawks got the better of the play in the first half, outshooting Southeast 7-2 and holding a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks. The Skyhawks produced a glorious opportunity in front of the goal when a through ball found Midori Sera, but Renee Kertz got to the ball before she could tee up the shot from eight-yards out.

Southeast produced a couple opportunities on set pieces in the opening frame. Paige Luehmann played a ball into the attacking box to Torey Byrd, who gained possession with an open look at the goal but was whistled offside in the fourth minute. Byrd again was just a hair early on another run during a free kick late in the first half, winning a 50-50 ball against UTM keeper Mariah Klenke, but the play again was whistled dead.

Kertz made three saves in the opening frame while Klenke stopped both Southeast shots to keep the contest scoreless at the break.
 
Southeast picked things up in the second half, possessing the ball more regularly and keeping the UT Martin attack to the outside over the first 20 minutes of the final frame. The teams combined for only one shot in the first 21 minutes.

The Skyhawks drew first blood off a corner kick in the 67th minute. Hannah McGowen's entry found Thompson near the top of the eight-yard box. Her shot found the upper corner of the net to make it a 1-0 UT Martin advantage.

Kertz made a tremendous save on a Kendyl Wilson attempt with under seven minutes remaining, diving to her left to keep the shot from going in on the far post and keeping the Redhawks within one shot.

Southeast pressed for offense following the goal, and created an opportunity off a corner kick with under two minutes left, but UT Martin fended off the chance to secure the win.

UT Martin outshot Southeast 12-4 and held a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks.

Kertz stopped four of five shots while Klenke turned aside all three shots that came her way.

This marks the third-straight season Southeast reached the OVC Tournament semifinals.