NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lauren Welker's first goal of the 2021 season was all #7 Southeast Missouri (6-9-2) needed to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament with a 1-0 victory over #6 Morehead State (4-10-4) Friday evening at E.S. Rose Park.

SEMO will now face #3 Belmont Sunday afternoon in the quarterfinals. First kick is set for 2 p.m., CT. 

Welker converted on a nice pass from Anne-Clara Couturier in the 63rd minute of play. After her previous shot narrowly missed to the right of the goal, Welker kicked the ball into the left corner of the net far enough out of goalkeeper Michelle Jerantowski's reach.

A native of nearby Jackson, Missouri, Welker entered this year's OVC Tournament with a team-high 11 shots. She then snapped a streak of 13 shots without a goal when she scored her game-winner in the second half. 

The goal was Welker's seventh in her career at SEMO. She finished with a team-high three shots (2 SOG) in 70 minutes on the pitch. 

Couturier, a sophomore from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada, was credited with her first career assist on the play. 

Elizabeth Rater also tallied a shot on target. 

After SEMO placed four of its first five shots of the game on goal in a more aggressive first half, Welker took both of her team's shots in the final 45 minutes.

Jerantowski turned away all four of the Redhawks shots on goal in the opening period, including two that came off the foot of Morgan McCourt.

The Redhawks and Eagles were even in shots (7-7) and SEMO held a slight 5-4 edge in shots on goal. MSU claimed a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Bailey Redden finished with four saves en route to her seventh shutout of the season. She now has 21 shutouts and 27 victories in her career at SEMO.

Redden also overtook Kindra Lierz (296 career saves, 2014-17) for the top spot in the Redhawks record books with 297 career saves. 

Emma Brune, Kate Daus, Lexi Grote and Natalie Jackson played in the full 90 minutes Friday night.

Brune has now played in the full regulation on the Redhawks defense in each of the past six games.

Jackson has played in the full regulation in each of the last 11 games.

Daus appeared in the full regulation for the seventh time in 2021.

Grote has played in the full regulation five times in 2021 including back-to-back games. The senior from Granite City, Illinois, played in her 80th career game at SEMO and moves in to sole possession of second overall in SEMO program history. She entered the game tied for second in program history for games with Lisa Schweppe (2002-2005).

Katie Kiolbassa led Morehead State with two shots on goal.

SEMO and MSU played to a scoreless draw less than two weeks ago before the Redhawks' win Friday.