KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri women's soccer defeated the University of Tennessee in the 2016 season opener Friday evening, 1-0.
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Freshman
Esmeralda Gonzales scored the lone goal of the match in the 47
th minute to lift the Redhawks past the Vols.
Kaitlin Kuznacic assisted on the game-winner.
"I was very pleased with our resilience in this game and I think we did a good job of defending in waves of players,"
Heather Nelson began. "As the game went on, we did a good job of finding open players and finding ways to attack. We finished the first half strong and it was a good way to go into the locker room. There were solid chances on both ends of the field. After a few adjustments and believing in controlling what we could control, our attacking really came together in the second half."Â
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Now in its 18
th season, this is Southeast's third victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent. The last was at Houck Stadium against Arkansas in 2004. The other came in 2002 at Kentucky. SEMO and UK face off September 14 this season.
"This win is super cool. It's a fantastic feeling to beat an SEC team. Prior to the game, I expressed my gratitude to the team for allowing me to do what I love. I'm able to be in this profession because of so many amazing women I get to coach. All I wanted for our team was to come out and have an amazing performance tonight. They have worked so hard of it."Â
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Despite being outshot 18-12 in the match, the Redhawks were more efficient as half of their shots were put on goal; the Vols had four.
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Kindra Lierz (1-0) picked up the solo shutout, the 16
th of her career. Lierz recorded three saves and played the entirety of the match. SEMO's fourth save was a team save recorded in the 11
th minute.
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Jamie Simmons (0-1) suffered the loss in goal for the Vols. She earned five saves and played all 90 minutes.
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Southeast and Tennessee found themselves scoreless after the first half of play. The Vols outshot the Redhawks 10-5 but four of SEMO's five shots were on goal.
Jasmin Hilliard owned two of the Redhawks' shots on goal with
Lauren Kaempfe and Gonzales were responsible for the others.
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Gonzales got SEMO's first shot of the 2016 season off in the ninth minute. Both of Hilliard's shots came from far outside the box but both were on the mark.
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Ariel Kupritz and Michele Christy each had two shots for the Vols in the opening half.
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Cassidi Tomsu rocketed a shot off 52 seconds into the second half that ricocheted off the crossbar, narrowly missing a goal. Tomsu would lead the Redhawks in shots with four Friday evening.Â
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Gonzales' first career goal, the Redhawks' first of the season, came just two minutes into the second half. Kuznacic crossed the ball out to Gonzales playing on the wing about 30 yards out. The 4-10 freshman from Texas bent the ball from far out into the top corner of the goal to put the Redhawks ahead 1-0.
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Lierz and the Redhawks worked diligently to defend eight Vol shots the remainder of the half, two of which were on goal.
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Lauren Kaempfe,
Alexis Hacker, and
Maddi Karstens played the entirety of the match.
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Of Southeast's eight freshman, six saw playing time Friday. Gonzales, Hacker, and Hilliard all started in their NCAA debuts.
"This team has a wonderful amount of depth and versatility. We used every player who was available from our roster tonight. Playing time is merit-based and it was great to see a number of freshmen come in and compete," Nelson remarked.Â
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The Redhawks were called for nine fouls while UT was called for seven. The Vols had five corners; the Redhawks had one.
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SEMO is now 13-4-1 all-time in season openers.
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Southeast Missouri will open the 2016 home schedule Sunday at Houck Stadium against Illinois Springfield. The first 250 fans through the gate will receive a special edition Pokémon Go t-shirt.
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