CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Goalkeeper Jensen Schoch had nine saves to help No. 4 SIU Edwardsville (10-5-4) upset top-seeded Southeast Missouri (11-5-1), 2-1, in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinal Friday night at Houck Field.
Schoch, who entered the game with four-straight shutouts, nearly pulled off her fifth against SEMO.
A penalty kick goal by OVC Freshman of the Year Hailey Block, however, spoiled the shutout in the 85thminute of play. Block took the kick after Myah Diekema was issued a red card on a rough collision with First-Team All-OVC midfielder Esmie Gonzales. SIUE committed 16 fouls in the game.
SEMO had a number of opportunities, but came up short.
Gonzales keyed the Redhawk offense all night, but Schoch saved all six of her shots on goal. Gonzales fired three shots on goal in each half.
SIUE scored first in the 41st minute when Mackenzie Litzsinger put the ball in the net from the left side of the goal. It was Litzsinger's first goal of the season.
The Cougars stretched their lead to 2-0 off a Megan Keeven goal. Keeven scored on a corner kick in the 77th minute.
SEMO outshot SIUE, 18-8, and finished with 10 shots on goal for the night.
Junior Abby Rollet, an outfielder on the SEMO softball team, made her first career start in goal.
Rollet was named the goalkeeper for tonight's contest after starter Bailey Redden was given a red card late in SEMO's regular-season conference title win over Tennessee Tech on Oct. 27. Redden missed tonight's semifinal matchup as a result of that red card.
Rollet, who was the Missouri All-State Class 2 Goalkeeper of the Year at Notre Dame High School as a prep, had two saves in her college soccer debut.
SIUE moves on to face No. 6 Belmont in the OVC Tournament Championship Sunday. That game is scheduled for 2 p.m., CT.
