CHARLESTON, Ill. – Freshmen Cayla Koerner and Alayna Jakul both registered goals as Southeast Missouri women's soccer (5-5-0, 1-1-0 OVC) earned its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season with a 2-1 decision over Eastern Illinois (2-4-4, 0-2-0 OVC) Thursday afternoon at Lakeside Field.
 
Koerner, a Mahomet, Illinois, native, gave the Redhawks a 1-0 advantage in the 15th minute. Emma Brune came away with the ball after a takeaway before passing to Koerner who slotted a shot through the legs of goalkeeper Daniela Bermeo.
 
The goal was Koerner's second of the season and her first career strike in Ohio Valley Conference play. 
 
For Brune, it was her first career assist as a Redhawk. 
 
The Brune to Koerner connection wasn't the first for the two families in the Red and Black as their grandfathers, Greg Brune (quarterback) and Charles Koerner (wide receiver), connected for touchdowns as members of the Southeast Missouri football team from 1964-66.
 
Elizabeth Rater blasted a shot from distance that just rose high over the goal in the 21st minute. 
 
Cayla Koerner then looked to increase the SEMO lead in the 32nd minute. She sped past the Panthers defense after a strong punt from goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink. Koerner's touch then just missed the mark high. 
 
Koerner paced SEMO Thursday with three shots including one on target, all compiled in the opening 45 minutes. She made her first start since Sept. 1 at Colorado College and finished with a career-high 79 minutes on the pitch. 
 
EIU held a slight edge in shots at the half, 6-5 (2-1 SOG), and finished with a 10-8 advantage (4-2 SOG) in the category. 
 
Jakul then netted her second-career game winner and first goal in league competitions in the 53rd minute. The St. Charles, Missouri, native, converted a header off a corner from Faith Liljegren. 
 
Liljegren, a junior from Collinsville, Illinois, was credited with her team-high second assist of the campaign. 
 
The Panthers then cut the SEMO lead to 2-1 with a goal from Cam Korhorn at 74:12. Jenna Little earned the assist on the play.
 
The Redhawks continued the pressure in the final 10 minutes of play. 
 
Jakul looked to regrow the SEMO margin to two but her shot just missed, banging off the crossbar in the 82nd minute. She finished Thursday with two shots (1 SOG) to go with her game winner over 72 minutes. 
 
Zoe Houston then saw her header via a corner just float high above the net at 82:55. 
 
Katelyn Miller also posted a shot for the Redhawks Thursday.
 
Emma Tucker made her first start of the 2022 season in the SEMO midfield. She finished with a personal-best 71 minutes on the pitch. 
 
Elfrink made three saves to improve to 5-5-0 on the year after her first career OVC win. 
 
Emma Brune, Mariah Mannino, and Natalie Jackson all competed in the full 90 minutes Thursday.
 
For Brune, it was her eighth-straight game (ninth in 2022) while it was the fifth of the season for Mannino. 
 
For Jackson, it was her 10th consecutive game of total 90 soccer. 
 
SEMO held a season-best 7-3 advantage in corner kicks, earning five during the opening half. 
 
Bermeo finished with no saves, allowing two goals for EIU. 
 
Little paced the Panthers with three shots and an assist. Michaela Danyo added two shots on goal. 
 
Maddie Paulson was assessed a yellow card in the 53rd minute Thursday. 
 
SEMO will next be back in action on Sunday, Oct. 2, to continue OVC play versus Lindenwood. First kick is slated for 1 p.m., CT at Houck Field.