MACOMB, Ill. – Sophia Elfrink registered three saves in Thursday's match as Southeast Missouri (4-2-2, 0-0-1 OVC) played to a 0-0 draw at Western Illinois (2-4-2, 0-0-1 OVC) to begin Ohio Valley Conference play. 
 
Elfrink, the reigning OVC Co-Goalkeeper of the Week, recorded her fifth clean sheet of the season in the net for the Redhawks facing four total Leathernecks' shots, including three on target. 
 
The match started out as a defensive slugfest as both teams were held to just a combined four shots in the first 45-minutes with WIU holding a 3-1 shot advantage. 
 
Redshirt senior Megan Heisserer recorded the only shot of the first half for SEMO, late in the period. 
 
A tale of two halves, SEMO started out the second half on fire beginning with a shot on target by senior midfielder Emma Brune. 
 
The Redhawks continued to fire shots at the WIU goal to the tune of 11 second half shots, led by Brune and Cayla Koerner who each finished with two shots-on-goal. 
 
Freshman Justi Nelson finished the match with two shots including one on-target as WIU's Isabel Navas Rodriguez finished the match with seven saves to keep the score level. 
 
Forwards Kiana Khedoo and Katelyn Miller each registered a shot from the front of the Redhawks' formation. Defender Maddie Paulson also registered a shot as the Redhawks were kept off the board for the first time in three matches. 
 
WIU's Alanna Pennington led the Leathernecks in shots as she finished with three shots-on-goal as Elfrink answered each one. 
 
Four Redhawks played the full 90-minutes this afternoon including Emma Brune, Maddie Paulson, Natalie Jackson, and Sophia Elfrink. 
 
SEMO soccer will return to OVC action on Sunday, September 24, when they host Eastern Illinois for the Meg Herndon Donate Life Game. Registered organ donors receive free admission to the match with kick off slated for 1 p.m., CT. at Houck Field.