Game #7
Southeast Missouri State (3-2-1)
vs Columbia College (4-0-0)
Match Information
Date: Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Venue: Houck Field
First Kick: 6:00 p.m., CT
All-Time Series: SEMO leads the All-Time series 1-0-0
Last Meeting: 1-0 Win | Cape Girardeau, Mo. | Aug. 28, 2022
Live Stats:StatBroadcast
Live Video: ESPN+
 
Redhawks Return Home to Take on Columbia College Thursday
Southeast Missouri (3-2-1) women's soccer returns to Houck Field on Thursday, Sept. 14, to take on NAIA-member Columbia College (4-0-0) in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m., CT. 
 
Series History
Thursday will mark the second year in a row that the Redhawks and Cougars will face off on the pitch in the schools' history. Last season, SEMO took down Columbia 1-0 in Cape Girardeau on Aug. 28, 2022. 
 
Forward Megan Heisserer registered the game-winning goal in the 81^st minute as the Redhawks got back to .500 on the season with the win (2-2). 
 
Goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink registered seven saves in last year's contest, earning her second career shutout. 
 
Last Time Out
SEMO was last in action on Sunday, Sept. 10, when they faced former Ohio Valley Conference member Murray State in non-conference action in the Bluegrass State. Sophomore Cayla Koerner & freshman Emily Baker each scored to give the Redhawks a 2-0 victory. 
 
The Redhawks tied a season high with 14 total shots in the win, with eight different players registering a shot with eight being on goal for a season high.
 
SEMO went scoreless in the first half but went to work in the second scoring goals in the 47th and 61st minute.
 
Koerner finished the day tying season highs in shots (6) and shots on target (3). To cap off her performance, she added one assist to the stat sheet.
 
She scored the first goal for the Redhawks when she received a pass from Alayna Jakul and slotted it into the bottom right of the goal. This marks her third goal of the year.
 
Emily Baker kicked the ball past the goalie into the bottom left of the net off a pass from Koerner for the second goal of the game.
 
Redhawks goalie Sophia Elfrink notched six saves playing all 90 minutes of the game.
 
Scouting the Opponent
Columbia College is undefeated so far this season and they are coming off a 5-2 victory over the University of Science and Arts. 
 
Junior Macie Lucas scored two of the Cougars five goals. Lucas also recorded five shots with three shots on goal.
 
Midfielders Izzy Cole, Delfina Zolesio, and Fernandez Blanco both registered one shot, one SOG, and one goal. 
 
Natalie Allison, the Cougars goalie notched six saves during the game. Allison now has 14 saves on the year against 16 shots faced.
 
Columbia College is averaging 20.3 shots per game and holding their opponents to 6.3 shots per game. The Cougars have attempted a total of 81 shots this season with 12 made shots (3.00 Goals/game).
 
Lucas and Zolesio Fernandez Blanco are both leading the team in goals with three. Zolesio Fernandez Blanco has 11 shots on the year with eight being on goal (.727 SOG%). Lucas has attempted 16 shots with seven being on goal.
 
Emilia Zolesio Fernandez Blanco has a team leading three assists on the season while also recording five shots (2 SOG).
 
Columbia College is coached by John Klein who is in his 11th year with the Cougars. Klein has helped the Cougars advance to the NAIA national championships nine times, has seven conference tournament championships, and six regular season championships. Klein has an overall record of 178-46-11. 
 
Looking Ahead
Following Thursday's match, Southeast Missouri soccer will take a week off prior to beginning Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks will be back in action next Thursday, Sept. 21, when they head to the newest member of the OVC, Western Illinois, for the first conference match of the season. Kick-off is slated for 3 p.m., CT. in Macomb, Ill.