COLUMBIA, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's soccer (0-1-0) dropped a hard-fought season opener at Missouri (1-0-0) of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), 1-0, Thursday evening at Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium. 
 
Freshman Sophia Elfrink registered seven saves in her first career game as the Redhawks goalie in her hometown of Columbia, Missouri. She competed in the full 90 minutes in net for SEMO.
 
SEMO and Missouri went to the break scoreless before the Tigers broke the stalemate in the second half. 
 
Missouri held a slight edge in shots, 6-4 (2-1 SOG), after the opening 45 minutes of play. 
 
Cayla Koerner, a freshman from Mahomet, Illinois, paced the Redhawks with two shots including a shot on goal at 33:57 in the first period. She saw 67 minutes of action on the pitch. 
 
Kylie Dobbs netted the game winner for the Tigers with a goal in the 58th minute of play. Rachel Kutella was credited with the assist for Missouri. 
 
Five freshmen made their SEMO debuts Thursday evening in Koerner, Elfrink, Alayna Jakul, Zoe Houston, and Ella Baldwin. Koerner, Elfrink, Jakul, and Houston were all featured in the Redhawks starting XI. 
 
Emma Brune, Faith Liljegren, Jakul, Mariah Mannino, and Natalie Jackson all competed in the full 90 minutes as field players Thursday. 
 
Jakul, Jackson, and Zoey Memmel all notched shots during the contest. 
 
For Liljegren, a junior from Collinsville, Illinois, the start was the first in her career at SEMO. 
 
Megan Heisserer competed in her first game back, after suffering a season-ending injury in the 2020-21 season opener (3/5/21 against Jacksonville State). The Scott City, Missouri, native, competed in 17 minutes off the bench. 
 
Missouri outshot SEMO, 14-5 overall including 8-1 for shots on goal. 
 
Jenna Bartels and Keegan Good both tallied two shots on target each Thursday for Missouri. 
 
Fouls finished tied at 15-15 as each team was assessed a pair of yellow cards. Koerner and Mannino were booked for SEMO while Hannah Boughton and Leah Selm both were handed yellows for Missouri. 
 
Bella Hollenbach made a save in the win for Missouri, competing in the full 90 minutes. 

The Redhawks next return to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for their regular-season home opener at Houck Field against Illinois Springfield on Sunday at 6 p.m., CT.
 
Entering Houck Field

Due to the Houck Project construction ongoing this fall, stadium operations will be modified. Fans may enter Houck Field either through the gates on the north side of the stadium (behind Kent Library) or the main front entrance of Houck Field House. The Houck Field House entrance is fully ADA accessible, with an elevator to field-level.

Parking will not be available in the east end zone of Houck Field during soccer home games this fall. 
 
Ticket Information
 
Season tickets and single game tickets are now on sale for the upcoming fall season. All seating at Houck Field is general admission.
 
Season tickets can be purchased for $39 (including all taxes and fees). Redhawks Club members at the Varsity level and above along with SEMO Faculty and Staff are eligible for discounted season tickets.
 
Single game tickets are $6 when purchased online (including all taxes and fees). Walk-up admission at Houck Field is $8 for adults and $6 for children 14 and younger.
 
All online tickets are delivered digitally to your mobile device. Mobile tickets are scanned on your phone, just like an airline boarding pass or St. Louis Cardinals game. For more information and instructions on using Mobile Tickets, visit www.semoredhawks.com/mobiletickets
 
Kids entering 8th grade and younger are invited to join Rowdy's Kids Club, presented by Innovative Orthodontics. The $29 (after applied fees) membership includes free admission to all home soccer games – as well as all home games for all other sports during the 2022-23 school year, t-shirt, membership card, and more.

For more information or to purchase fall 2022 SEMO Soccer season tickets, visit SEMOSoccerTickets or call the Athletic Ticket Office at (573) 651-2113.