Southeast Missouri (0-0)
at Tennessee (0-0)
Match Information
Date: Aug. 19, 2016
Kickoff: 6 p.m., CT
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Stadium: Regal Soccer Stadium
Series: First Meeting
Media Information
Live Stream: SEC Network +
Live Stats: UTSports.com
 
vs. Illinois Springfield (0-0)
Match Information
Date: Aug. 21, 2016
Kickoff: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Stadium: Houck Stadium
Series: First Meeting
Media Information
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com

Complete Match Notes: Southeast Missouri | Tennessee
 
Follow the Redhawks on Twitter for in-game updates @SEMOsoccer
 
Quick Kicks
Southeast Missouri women's soccer will open the 2016 season this weekend with a pair of matches. Southeast will begin at the University of Tennessee on Friday at 6 p.m., CT. The Redhawks will play the home opener on Sunday at 7 p.m. when Illinois Springfield comes to Cape Girardeau.
 
Friday's match at Tennessee will be streamed live on the SEC Network +. Fans can tune in on WatchESPN and the ESPN app with a valid cable subscription.
 
Sunday's home opener will be Pokémon Go night at Houck Stadium. The first 250 fans will receive special Redhawks Pokémon Go t-shirt while the match will feature Pokémon Go themed games and activities. Pokémon Go lures will be placed at Houck Stadium within the app.
 
OVC Preseason Pick
The Southeast Missouri women's soccer team was picked to finish second in the OVC Preseason Poll. Southeast, who was picked to finish second last season, finished sixth with a 3-2-5 conference record (14 points). The Redhawks made a run at the OVC Tournament title and faced top-seeded Murray State in the championship round. SEMO fell in the final minute of overtime to the Racers on a golden goal.
 
Chasing 200
Head coach Heather Nelson is four wins away from recording her 200th career victory as a head coach. Nelson, who is in her 22nd season as a head coach, has a career record of 196-151-45. Nelson and her husband, Associate Head Coach Paul Nelson, spent four seasons at Florida State (1995-98) before taking over the Southeast women's team. The Nelsons have guided the Redhawks since the program's inception in 1999. Southeast has won five OVC regular season titles and two OVC Tournaments with two NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2007). Nelson is 165-107-40 at SEMO.
 
Exhibition Recap
Southeast Missouri and Vanderbilt played to a scoreless draw in the Redhawks' lone exhibition match on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Southeast was held to no shots in the first half but was able to fire off six in the second half. Freshman Esmeralda Gonzales was responsible for three of the Redhawks' six shots. Of Southeast's eight freshmen, seven saw time in the match. Freshman goalkeeper Maddie Gleeson stepped in early in the first half and recorded three saves.
 
Series Histories
Southeast will make its first meetings this weekend with both Tennessee and Illinois Springfield.
 
Against the SEC
Southeast has played five current Southeastern Conference teams. In nine matches against the SEC, Southeast is 2-6-1 with wins over Arkansas and Kentucky. The Redhawks are slated to play at Kentucky September 14. Southeast last played an SEC team in 2013 (at Missouri, L 4-0).
 
In Season Openers
SEMO soccer is 12-4-1 all time in season openers. Southeast won the season opener seven-straight seasons from 2001 to 2007. Southeast has won its last two season openers. In road season openers, Southeast is 3-2.
 
Squad Setup
The 2016 roster features 14 returners and eight newcomers, who are all freshman. The roster features a formidable senior class in Kaitlin Kuznacic, Natasha Minor, and Angie Mann. The three combine for 25 career goals, 15 of which belong to Minor.
 
A Fresh Crop
Southeast carries eight newcomers on the 2016 roster, all freshmen. Seven of the eight saw time in SEMO's exhibition match at Vanderbilt including three making the starting lineup (Esmeralda Gonzales, Alexis Hacker, Jasmin Hilliard).
 
Active Career Leader
Following the conclusion of the 2015 women's soccer season, Kindra Lierz's 0.80 career goals against average ranked 27th among active career leaders.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Tennessee (0-0)
The Vols were picked ninth in the SEC's preseason poll this season. UT finished the 2015 campaign 7-5-6, its fifth winning season in the last six years. The Vols fell to Clemson in exhibtion play, 1-0, on Aug. 13. Clemson netted the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute of the match. Tennessee was outshot in the match, 7-1.
Illinois Springfield (0-0)
Sunday's match will be Illinois Springfield's first match of the season and will act of one of three exhibition matches for the team. The Prairie Stars finished the 2015 season 5-11-2 and 4-9-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. Erin Egolf is in her first year as head coach of the Prairie Stars program.
 
Tailgate Sundays
The East end zone of Houck Stadium will be open to fans who wish to tailgate for all Sunday home matches. Admission to the tailgate end zone is the same as general admission to soccer matches ($5).