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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Ashton Aubuchon was brought to Southeast Missouri to break records and the senior did just that on Senior Night.

Aubuchon broke assistant coach Lindsay Pickering's career saves record by making five stops as the soccer team topped SIU Edwardsville 1-0 at Houck Stadium on Friday. The win moves the Redhawks to 7-5-3 and 5-1-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. SIUE is now 10-4-3 and 4-3-1 in the OVC.

"Overall it was a nice bonus for Southeast Missouri when Ashton committed to play for us and graduated early to do so," Southeast head coach Heather Nelson said. "She was the youngest player in NCAA soccer when she came on campus as a freshman. She earned all-conference honors and had an excellent career. It's fitting for her to leave with a place in the record books and to break this record on senior night."

The Redhawks also received good news from around the OVC as Belmont topped Eastern Kentucky, 2-1, in overtime. That result means Southeast clinched a spot in next month's OVC Tournament, their fourth-straight appearance in the postseason tournament.

"The team put together a strong performance tonight," Nelson said. "We were performing at our best by the time the second half rolled around. There were a number of opportunities that weren't shots that we could've scored on as well."

SIUE outshot Southeast 8-2 in the opening frame, though only two of those shots were on goal. Ashton Aubuchon stopped both of those attempts to break Lindsay Pickering's school-saves record. While Southeast only attempted two shots, there were multiple situations a Redhawk played the ball into an opening near the goal and nobody could meet the pass. Both teams attempted one corner kick in a scoreless first half of play.

The Cougars took four of the first five shot attempts recorded in the second half, which spanned about 30 minutes of play. Most of those shots came from the outside, however, with Aubuchon making two more saves and the other two attempts going off target.

With the contest still scoreless, the Redhawks launched a brilliant counter in the 75th minute. Jennifer Antonacci slipped a left-footed pass between two defenders that hit Breana Beine in stride down the left sideline. Beine, with a step on the defense, threaded another pass across the net mouth to a cutting Storm French. The sophomore buried the feed for her second goal of the season to put the Redhawks on top 1-0.

 "That was a really pretty play," Nelson said. "Jenny's left-footed ball was the most difficult part of the play and she hit her spot. Bre was shot out of a cannon and made a nice pass to Storm. Bre has really become a complete player and she was a real difference maker for us. All of our attackers did a nice job tonight."

SIUE tried to pin Southeast in its own end over the final 15 minutes of play, but managed only one shot, which Aubuchon smothered to secure Southeast's third-straight win.

The Cougars finished up with a 13-6 edge in shots, though only five of their attempts were on goal compared to the Redhawks' four. Southeast took two corner kicks while SIUE only had one attempt from the corner.

Aubuchon's five saves secured her 21st-career solo shutout and her sixth this season. Jennifer Pelley stopped three of four shots for SIUE.

Prior to the match, the Redhawks honored their four seniors, all of whom started. Aubuchon now has 232 career saves while Jacey Boyko, Stephanie Palmer and Amy Ward all logged over 30 minutes on the field to help Southeast punch its ticket to the OVC Tournament.

The Redhawks close out their home schedule on Sunday afternoon when they host Eastern Illinois. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.