NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Morgan McCourt registered the golden goal less than two minutes into the overtime period to send Southeast Missouri women's soccer (7-9-2) to the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Semifinals with a 2-1 victory over #3 Belmont (8-8-1) Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park.
 
Lauren Welker sent in a corner kick that McCourt booted in at 91:56 to secure the win for SEMO. The Redhawks converted a pair of goals on four corner kick opportunities Sunday.
 
With the victory, the #7-seeded Redhawks have advanced to the 2021 OVC Championship Semifinals where they will face #2 SIUE Friday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., CT in Martin, Tennessee.
 
McCourt, a redshirt-junior from Burlington, Wisconsin, registered her first goal of the season and seventh in her career to lift the Redhawks past Belmont. She competed in 67 minutes on the pitch, leading the Redhawks with three shots including two on target.
 
SEMO and Belmont went to halftime scoreless with the Bruins outshooting the Redhawks, 5-2.
 
Both teams exchanged shots that sailed over the net early in the first half. McCourt hit a shot at 1:02 followed by Erin Patterson's strike on target at 3:20.
 
Bailey Redden tallied a pair of saves in the opening 45 minutes while Andrea Leitner made one of her three saves during the period. 
 
Redden finished with five saves including three in the second half for her seventh win of the season and 28th in her career.
 
The all-time Redhawks saves leader from Belleville, Illinois, also moved to second overall in SEMO program history for minutes played. Redden now has appeared in 5,359 minutes which puts her second overall ahead of Lindsay Pickering (5,233 minutes, 2005-07) and Ashton Aubuchon (5,201 minutes, 2010-13).
 
Welker broke the 0-0 tie 1:18 into the second half. Kate Daus opened the play with a corner kick that found Welker after bouncing around the box. Welker found the back of the net with a left footed shot in the 47th minute.
 
The goal was Welker's second of the season and eighth in her career.
 
Welker, a senior from Jackson, Missouri, has now scored in each of the last three Redhawks OVC Championship Tournament games dating back to the 2020-21 OVC Championship Tournament Final against SIUE in Murray, Kentucky (April 17, 2021).
 
Welker finished Sunday's game with a goal and an assist to go along with a shot on goal in 55 minutes of action. It was her first career three-point game as a Redhawk.
 
Kate Daus then looked to provide the Redhawks a 2-0 advantage with a rocket from distance but Leitner was there for the save.
 
The Bruins then evened the game at 1-1 with a goal by Sydney Cason in the 58th minute off an assist from Haley Poynter.
 
Loren House then headed a shot off the woodwork in the 63rd minute.

Redden made a diving goal-saving stop in the 73rd minute on Avery Nowak's shot to keep it a 1-1 game.
 
Abby Tremain concluded the offense in the 90 minutes of regulation with a shot from distance but Leitner registered the stop at 81:08.
 
Belmont outshot the Redhawks 11-6 including a slight 6-5 edge in shots on goal.
 
SEMO earned four corners and was able to capitalize on two of the opportunities while Belmont had two corners.
 
Kiana Khedoo and Natalie Jackson were both assessed yellow cards in the 33rd and 55th minutes, respectively, in the competitive game that saw 27 total fouls (17-10 SEMO).
 
Emma Brune and Jackson played in the full 92 minutes Sunday.
 
Brune has now played in the full regulation on the Redhawks defense in each of the past seven games.
 
Jackson has played in the full regulation in each of the last 12 games.
 
Rachel Vernon and Keely Cartrett played in the full regulation for Belmont.
 
Nowak, Cason (2 SOG) and Patterson each had two shots for the Bruins.
 
Hannah Compernolle played in her 83rd career game while Lexi Grote appeared in her 81st career cap. The duo ranks first and second in SEMO program history for games played.
 
SEMO will next head to Martin, Tennessee, for the 2021 OVC Championship Tournament Semifinals. The Redhawks will face #2 SIUE in the second of two semifinals Friday, Nov. 5 on the campus of top-seeded UT Martin. First kick is set for 7 p.m., CT.