CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Jennifer Brien and Cassidi Tomsu each scored to lead Southeast Missouri (3-3, 1-0) to a 2-1 victory over Belmont (1-5-2) Friday night at Houck Field.
SEMO and Belmont took the field for their Ohio Valley Conference opener after a near two-hour delay due to rain and lightning in the area.
Once the inclement weather cleared, the offensive sparks flew early with three goals in the first 15 minutes of the contest.
Brien, a senior, scored her first goal of the season when she broke free from 40 yards out. Brien's goal put SEMO ahead, 1-0, 5:26 into the game.
Less than two minutes later, Belmont tied the game when Rachel Vernon scored off a corner kick from the left side of the field. Vernon's goal was assisted by Paige Hewitt at the 7:15 mark.
Tomsu, who hails from Jackson, regained the lead for the Redhawks off a nice feed from Esmie Gonzales for her second goal of the season. Tomsu gave SEMO a 2-1 advantage in the 15th minute.
Both teams went scoreless in the final 45 minutes.
The Redhawks outshot Belmont, 16-7, and had nine shots on goal. The 16 shots were SEMO's second-most in a game this year. SEMO improved to 8-8-5 all-time in OVC openers.
SEMO wore special green and blue uniforms to support organ and tissue donation. Tonight's game also honored the memory of former Redhawk Meg Herndon who was tragically involved in a truck-scooter accident on this exact date in 2012.
The Redhawks return to action when they host Eastern Illinois Sunday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., CT.
