PDF Box Score | HTML Box Score & Play-by-Play | Photo Gallery
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A six-goal outburst in the first half propelled the Southeast Missouri soccer team to an emphatic 6-0 victory over Murray State at Houck Stadium on Friday night.
The Redhawks (2-6-3, 1-0-1 Ohio Valley) picked up their first OVC win and snapped a six-match winless skid in the process.
Southeast's six goals were its most against an OVC opponent since downing Eastern Kentucky, 9-0, on Sept. 30, 2007.
“We talked a lot about our players being complete players,” Southeast head coach
Heather Nelson said. “We defend a lot with our forward players and attack with our back players. They did a great job of both those things. We created some fantastic scoring opportunities and our players were on in terms of finishing.”
The Redhawks got on the board in the eighth minute when a Racer (3-6-0, 1-1-0 OVC) foul gave
Courtney Luehmann a free kick just past midfield. Luehmann served a perfect ball into the middle of the 18-yard box that
Hayley Abbott soared to head over MSU keeper Latisha Stevenson to make it 1-0.
In the 16th minute, Southeast began a string of three goals in an 8:14 span.
Paige Luehmann set up the Redhawks' second tally with a well placed cross that found fellow freshman defender
Amy Harrington running down the other side of the field. Harrington one-touched the ball into the far side of the post for her first-career goal.
Jacey Boyko made it 3-0 Redhawks in the 21st minute when she corralled a loose ball from 25 yards out and fired a perfectly-placed shot into the top corner of the cage for her first goal of the season.
Torey Byrd added her first of the year in the 24th minute when
Ali Bauer's high ball corralled off
Courtney Luehmann into the box, where Byrd did not miss.
The Southeast defense got involved once again in the 39th minute when
Hayley Abbott played a long ball down field that
Paige Luehmann caught up with and crossed to Byrd, who converted for her second tally of the night to put the rout on at 5-0.
Southeast's offense wasn't done quite yet, as
Ali Bauer headed an
Ashley Geist corner kick feed into the top of the net with 27 seconds remaining in the first half to cap the scoring.
Altogether, Southeast's defense scored or assisted on five of the six goals. The starting defense of Abbott, Bauer, Harrington and
Paige Luehmann combined for three goals and four assists on the night.
The large lead allowed the Redhawks to limit the minutes of most of its starters in a scoreless second half. Six of the 10 field players were on the field for less than 50 minutes in a week the Redhawks play three times.
“It was great to give some of our younger players minutes in the second half,” Nelson said. “They got a lot of quality minutes against a quality program that wasn't going to lay down in the second half.”
Southeast attempted a season-high 21 shots and allowed only nine Murray State attempts. The Racers finished with a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Ashton Aubuchon got the starting nod in goal for the Redhawks. The junior made five saves for her first win and shutout of the season.
Southeast concludes its home stand on Sunday when it hosts Austin Peay. Opening kickoff is at 1 p.m.
