Game #12
Little Rock (5-5-2, 2-2-0 OVC)
vs. Southeast Missouri (5-5-1, 1-1-1 OVC)
Match Information
Date: Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 
Location: Little Rock, Ark. 
Venue: Coleman Sports Complex
First Kick: 4 p.m., CT
All-Time Series: SEMO leads the All-Time Series with Little Rock, 4-0-0
Last Meeting: 1-0 SEMO Win | Cape Girardeau, Mo. | Aug. 25, 2006
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
Game #13
Morehead State (6-4-2, 3-0-1 OVC)
vs. Southeast Missouri (5-5-1, 1-1-0 OVC)
Match Information
Date: Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
Venue: Houck Field
First Kick: 1 p.m., CT
All-Time Series: SEMO leads the All-Time Series with Morehead State, 15-6-6
Last Meeting: 1-0 SEMO Win | Nashville, Tenn. | Oct. 29, 2021 | 2021 OVC Championship Tournament 
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets

Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
 
Redhawks Head to Little Rock for Midweek Thursday before Hosting Morehead State Sunday on Senior Day
Southeast Missouri women's soccer (5-5-1, 1-1-1 OVC) will continue its 2022 Ohio Valley Conference schedule this week when the Redhawks head to Little Rock (5-5-2, 2-2-0 OVC) Thursday before hosting Morehead State (6-4-2, 3-0-1 OVC) Sunday. 
 
SEMO will take on first-year Ohio Valley Conference member, Little Rock Thursday at Coleman Sports Complex in Little Rock, Arkansas. First kick is slated for 4 p.m., CT. 
 
The Redhawks will then return home to Houck Field on Sunday when they welcome Morehead State on Senior Day. SEMO will honor seniors Natalie Miller, Morgan McCourt, Gabby Gscheidmeier, and Mariah Mannino prior to Sunday's 1 p.m., CT, kickoff. Sunday is also Hispanic Heritage Day. Fans in attendance Sunday will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Burrito-Ville, while supplies last.
 
Follow the Redhawks
• Stats will be available for Thursday's and Sunday's games on SEMORedhawks.com
• Thursday's road match at Little Rock will be broadcasted on ESPN+ 
• Due to the ongoing construction at Houck Field and for the health and safety of our players, the rest of the 2022 home schedule including Sunday will not be broadcasted on ESPN+ 
• @SEMOSoccer, the official Twitter page of Redhawks soccer, will feature live in-game updates all season long.
 
Promotions
• Senior Day – SEMO will honor seniors Natalie Miller, Morgan McCourt, Gabby Gscheidmeier, and Mariah Mannino prior to first kick Sunday
• Hispanic Heritage Day – Free t-shirt for fans in attendance Sunday courtesy of Burrito-Ville, while supplies last
 
Series History
Little Rock Trojans
For the Trojans and the Redhawks, Thursday's contest will mark the fifth time that the schools have matched up on the pitch but the first time as OVC opponents. 
 
The Redhawks have dominated the first four contests going a perfect 4-0-0, with SEMO's last win coming on August 25, 2006. SEMO won the contest, 1-0, at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Megan McGrath netted the game winner while goalkeeper Lindsay Pickering notched four saves for her first shutout of the 2006 campaign.
 
Morehead State Eagles
When SEMO takes on the Eagles, the matchup will mark the 28th time the two conference-foes have taken the field against each other. 
 
SEMO picked up the last win of the matchup in last year's Ohio Valley Conference tournament's First Round by a final score of 1-0. Lauren Welker's first goal of the 2021 season (63rd minute) was all #7 Southeast Missouri needed to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2021 OVC Championship Tournament with a 1-0 victory over #6 Morehead State Oct. 29 at E.S. Rose Park in Nashville, Tennessee. 
 
SEMO and Morehead State drew, 0-0, in the 2021 regular-season meeting on Oct. 17 that featured double overtime. 
 
The Redhawks are unbeaten in their last nine matchups (6-0-3) with the Eagles. SEMO last beat Morehead State in Cape Girardeau, 1-0, on March 29, 2021, during the 2020-21 season. 
 
Scouting the Opponents
Little Rock Trojans
Little Rock comes into Thursday's match with an even .500 record (2-2-0) in the Ohio Valley Conference, having picked up two league wins over UT Martin (2-1, Sept. 22) and Southern Indiana (1-0, Sept. 25). 
 
The Trojans have dropped matches to Lindenwood (0-1, Sept. 18) and most recently Morehead State by a final score of 2-0 on Oct. 2. 

The Trojans led the game in shots (14-9, 8-5 SOG) and held the advantage in corner kicks (7-2), but it was the Eagles' Colleen Swift who netted two goals (7' and 74') for the Morehead State win. 
 
Little Rock was led in shots by freshman midfielder Amaya Arias who registered five shots with three on goal. Three other Trojans registered multiple shots in Serenity Thake (2 shots, 1 SOG), Kate Benne (2 shots, 1 SOG), and Bronte Peel (2 shots, 1 SOG). 
 
Little Rock used two goalies in the losing effort in Peyton Urban and Paige Henry who each allowed a goal in the contest. Urban picked up one save, while Henry registered two, as each played a half.
 
Morehead State Eagles
Morehead State enters the contest with a 6-4-2 overall record and currently sit tied for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference at 3-0-1 (10 points) with SIUE. 
 
MSU has picked up conference wins over UT Martin (3-1, Sept. 25), Southern Indiana (1-0, Sept. 18), and most recently Little Rock (2-0, Oct. 2). 
 
The Eagles defeated Little Rock, 2-0, on the back of sophomore forward Colleen Swift who led the team in shots (3 total, 2 SOG) and was responsible for both MSU goals (7' and 74') to secure the victory on Oct. 2. 
 
So far on the season, Swift has registered 13 shots (6 SOG) and three goals (6 points) for the Eagles.
 
Erin Gibbs compiled eight saves in the win over Little Rock. On the season, she has played 405 minutes allowing just one goal thus far. Oct. 2's contest was her third shutout on the season, having faced 61 shots in five games played (four started). 
 
Swift (Offensive), Madelyn Mozeleski (Defensive), and Gibbs (Goalkeeper) combined to sweep the OVC Weekly awards on Tuesday after a 1-0-1 week that also included a 0-0 draw to Eastern Illinois on Sept. 29 prior to the Little Rock win. 
 
Last Time Out
The Redhawks earned a point in the OVC standings on Oct. 2, following a 0-0 tie to in-state foe and new conference member Lindenwood.
 
SEMO and Lindenwood met on the pitch for the first time as conference opponents and second time in program history. 
 
The Redhawks outshot the visiting Lions, 17-11 (6-4 SOG), including a commanding second half advantage of 11-2. 
 
Megan Heisserer led SEMO with three shots including a shot on target.
 
Zoe Houston also registered three shots including one on goal. 
 
Goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink made four saves for her fourth shutout of the 2022 campaign. 
 
Three Redhawks from St. Charles, Missouri, faced Lindenwood, their hometown school, in Alayna Jakul (Orchard Farm HS), Houston (Francis Howell HS), and Mariah Mannino (Francis Howell Central HS).
 
Where We Rank
SEMO ranks first in the OVC as a team with a 0.865 save percentage and a 5.82 saves per game. The Redhawks are also second with 0.909 goals against average. 
 
Freshman goalie Sophia Elfrink paces the league in net thus far in 2022. She is first in the OVC with a save percentage of 0.865, a 5.82 saves per game average and 64 total saves. Elfrink, a Columbia, Missouri, native, also ranks third for goalie minutes played (990:00), goals against average (0.909), and shutouts (4).
 
Megan Heisserer and Alayna Jakul lead the OVC with two game winners each. 

Total 90 Tracker
Through the first 11 games, defender Natalie Jackson, along with goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink have played in all 990 minutes of regulation.
 
Emma Brune has played in the full 90 in each of the last nine games (10 in 2022). Maddie Paulson has played in the total 90 in four of the last five games. 
 
Mariah Mannino played in the full regulation in each of the first four contests in 2022 and most recently at Eastern Illinois (Sept. 22).
  
Full Regulation Games
Natalie Jackson (Missouri, UIS, Missouri State, Columbia College, Colorado College, Colorado State, Evansville, Southern Illinois, SIUE, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood)

Sophia Elfrink (Missouri, UIS, Missouri State, Columbia College, Colorado College, Colorado State, Evansville, Southern Illinois, SIUE, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood)

Emma Brune (Missouri, Missouri State, Columbia College, Colorado College, Colorado State, Evansville, Southern Illinois, SIUE, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood)
 
Mariah Mannino (Missouri, UIS, Missouri State, Columbia College, Eastern Illinois)

Maddie Paulson (Evansville, Southern Illinois, SIUE, Lindenwood)

Faith Liljegren (Missouri)

Alayna Jakul (Missouri)
 
Koerner and Brune Continue Southeast Missouri Family Legacy on the Soccer Pitch 
The tandem of Greg Brune (quarterback) and Chuck Koerner (wide receiver) teamed up for touchdowns on the gridiron to lead the Southeast Missouri football team in the 1960s and now their granddaughters, Emma Brune and Cayla Koerner, are currently adding their own chapters to their family legacies as members of the Redhawks women's soccer team. 
 
The family connection came full circle in SEMO's most recent game at Eastern Illinois on Sept. 22 with Emma Brune hooking up with Cayla Koerner for a goal in the 15th minute.
 
Non-Conference Recap
SEMO fashioned a 4-4-0 non-conference mark with wins over Illinois-Springfield (2-0, Aug. 21), Columbia College (1-0, Aug. 28), Colorado College (2-1, Sept. 1) and Evansville (1-0, Sept. 8).
 
The Redhawks opened the 2022 campaign with a loss at Missouri (0-1, Aug. 18) and also fell at Missouri State (0-2, Aug. 25), at Colorado State (0-2, Sept. 4) and against Southern Illinois (0-1, Sept. 11).
 
Megan Heisserer led the SEMO offense with two goals (both game winners) and an assist (five points, 10 shots, 4 SOG) in her return from a season-ending injury suffered in the 2020-21 season opener (March 5, 2021).
 
Faith Liljegren (1g-1a-3pts), Alayna Jakul (1g-1a-3pts), Cayla Koerner, and Zoey Memmel all notched a goal in non-conference play. Koerner registered a team-high 12 shots (6 SOG). Liljegren posted 10 shots (4 SOG) while Memmel had nine shots (6 SOG).
 
Freshman goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink started and competed in all eight games (720 minutes), tallying 50 saves (.877 save percentage) for a 4-4-0 mark (7 goals allowed, 0.88 GAA) including a trio of shutouts. 
 
Defender Natalie Jackson is the only Redhawks field player that competed in the full 720 minutes of regulation during non-conference play. 
 
Redhawks Debuts
Five freshmen made their SEMO debuts Aug. 18 against Missouri in Cayla Koerner, Sophia Elfrink, Alayna Jakul, Zoe Houston, and Ella Baldwin. Koerner, Elfrink, Jakul, and Houston were all featured in the Redhawks starting XI.
 
Navi Washington and Macie Hockett both made their Redhawk debuts Aug. 21 against Illinois Springfield. Baldwin made her first career start on defense, tallying a shot in 63 minutes against UIS.
  
2022 OVC Preseason Poll
Southeast Missouri women's soccer was selected to finish the 2022 season fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference, the league announced Aug. 11. Sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Rater was tabbed to the 2022 OVC Soccer Preseason Players to Watch List.
 
SIUE, the 2021 OVC Regular-Season and Tournament Champions, was picked first with 11 first-place votes and 123 points. UT Martin, the 2021 OVC Regular Season Champions, was pegged second with seven first-place votes and 119 points.
 
Rater, a Mequon, Wisconsin, native, was named to her first career OVC preseason team Thursday. She led SEMO offensively in 2021 with three goals and was second on the team with six points (3g). In conference play, Rater paced the Redhawks with two goals and four points in eight games and was selected to the 2021 OVC Second-Team and All-Newcomer Team. She appeared in all 19 games, making nine starts during her freshman campaign in 2021. 
 
SEMO Schedule
The Redhawks will play 16 regular-season games during the 2022 campaign. The slate features eight non-conference contests and eight home games at Houck Field.
 
The 2022 schedule also includes eight Ohio Valley Conference games which began with SIUE, the 2021 OVC Tournament Champions and Regular-Season Champions, on Sept. 18 at Houck Field.
 
The 2022 OVC Tournament Championship will be contested Oct. 28 through Nov. 6. The first two rounds will be hosted on campus sites (with the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds hosting) while the semifinals and championship will be played on campus at the No. 1 seed and regular-season champion. 
  
Roster Breakdown
The Redhawks return five All-OVC players this season in midfielders Kiana Khedoo (2021 Second-Team) and Elizabeth Rater (2021 Second-Team and All-Newcomer Team), redshirt senior forward Morgan McCourt (2020-21 Tournament, 2018 All-Newcomer), senior defender Natalie Jackson (2019 All-Tournament) and Cape Girardeau midfielder/defender Emma Brune (2020-21 Second Team, All-Newcomer and Tournament).
 
The 2022 team features 25 student-athletes including 16 returners and nine newcomers. 
 
Head coach Heather Nelson will lead the Redhawks in her 24th season at SEMO in 2022. 
 
Newcomers
The 2022 squad also features nine freshmen in goalkeepers Sophia Elfrink and Sarah Pattillo, defenders Ella Baldwin, Macie Hockett and Alayna Jakul, midfielders Josetiarainnah Olaco and Zoe Houston, and forwards Cayla Koerner and Navi Washington.

The Jackson 4 
SEMO has four players from Jackson, Missouri, on their 2022 roster with sophomores Grace Crowden and Katelyn Miller, along with seniors Natalie Miller and Taylor Nelson.
 
Home Grown from the Southeast Region of Missouri 
The 2022 Redhawks roster features six players from the Southeast region of Missouri. In addition to the four Jackson student-athletes in Grace Crowden, Katelyn Miller, Natalie Miller, and Taylor Nelson, the group of locals also includes Emma Brune (Cape Girardeau, Saxony Lutheran HS) and Megan Heisserer (Scott City, Notre Dame HS).

Academic Excellence
Redhawks Soccer led the Southeast Missouri Athletics Department with eight Ohio Valley Conference Academic Medals of Honor for the 2021-22 academic year. Emma Brune, Kate Daus, Lexi Grote, Katelyn Miller, Taylor Nelson, Maddie Paulson, Elizabeth Rater, and Bailey Redden all carried a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
 
SEMO also had 21 student-athletes named to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll for the 2021-22 academic year. Emma Brune, Anne-Clara Couturier, Grace Crowden, Kate Daus, Lexi Grote, Gabby Gscheidmeier, Megan Heisserer, Natalie Jackson, Kiana Khedoo, Faith Liljegren, Mariah Mannino, Zoey Memmel, Katelyn Miller, Natalie Miller, Taylor Nelson, Maddie Paulson, Elizabeth Rater, Bailey Redden, Abby Rollet, Emma Tucker, and Lauren Welker achieved a 3.25 GPA or higher for the honor. 

SEMO earned the United Soccer Coaches College Team Academic Award as recognition for their exemplary performance in the classroom during the 2021-22 academic year. The Redhawks posted a 3.76 GPA for their third-straight distinction from United Soccer Coaches and 11th overall in program history. 
 
2021 Season Recap
SEMO finished 2021 as an OVC Tournament Semifinalist, going on a Cinderella run as the #7-seed. The Redhawks edged #6 Morehead State, 1-0, in the First Round before eliminating Quarterfinals host, #3 Belmont, 2-1, in overtime. The Redhawks then fell to #2 SIUE, the 2021 OVC Tournament Champions, in the Semifinals. 
 
SEMO finished the 2021 campaign with a 7-10-2 overall record (2-4-2 in the OVC). 
 
Kiana Khedoo and Elizabeth Rater earned 2021 Second-Team All-OVC honors. Rater was also named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team. Seniors Lauren Welker and Bailey Redden were also both named to the 2021 All-OVC Championship Tournament team.
 
Next Time Out
Following this week, SEMO will be back in action in Cookeville, Tennessee, to take on Tennessee Tech on Sunday, Oct. 16. First kick is set for 1 p.m., CT.