The Redhawks soccer team tied the Austin Peay Governors 1-1 on Sunday.

The game began very defensive. Both teams had created a few goal scoring chances, only for the attack to be handled by the opposing defense. “They have two very fast up top players, but our defense just had to stay organized,” goalkeeper Kindra Lierz said. It wasn’t until 25 minutes in Southeast found energy in their attack when freshman midfielder Esmeral Gonzales attempted a bicycle kick that was well defended by the Austin Peay.

The team then found itself on the scoreboard only 5 minutes later. Gonzales received the ball inside the box and laid the ball off to senior midfielder Natasha Minor, who beat the goalkeeper to the top left corner. Gonzales went down on the play and had to be helped off the field.

“To be honest I just wanted to get in the back of the net,” Minor said. “Essy went down. I was really concerned about her.” Minor said she thought Gonzales was hit in the back of the neck.

Austin Peay quickly bounced back and made its way into Southeast’s 18-yard box 30 seconds later, but a pass was played out of bounds.

The Governors came out with energy in the second half and created a few chances early on. These chances proved deadly as they scored in the seventh minute of the second half. Junior midfielder Kirsten Robertson of Austin Peay passed a ball into sophomore forward Jennifer Smith, who was able to beat her defender and slide the ball past Lierz.

Southeast had another scare a minute later when Austin Peay nearly finished a corner kick, but the chance went wide.

Chances came and went as regulation time came to an end and the game went into overtime.

Within the first minute of overtime, Gonzales nearly scored off a shot from beyond the 18-yard box. The attempt was saved by the Austin Peay goalkeeper.

A few minutes later The Governors nearly scored. Sophomore defender Morgan Jackson was able to get in behind the Redhawks’ line of defense, but junior defender Shay Darga sprinted back to block the shot.

Tempers flared in the fifth minute of overtime when Austin Peay’s Kirstin Robertson ended up on top of Darga and cleating her in the back. Both players received yellow cards for this incident.

In the sixth minute of overtime, Lierz made a reaching save to her lower left side to save what could have been the game winner for Austin Peay.

“It’s just a reaction save,” Lierz said. “You can’t really prepare for it. You just have to go for it. Luckily I just got there in time.”

In the second overtime, Gonzales sprinted through the middle of the field and pushed a counterattack when she was taken down by Governors’ player Pamela Penaloza. Penaloza received a yellow card for the foul.

Neither team was able to score, resulting in the game ending tie, 1-1.

“Everyone gave 110 percent today,” Minor said, “We played 110 minutes the other night as well so our legs are heavy, but everyone came out here and did an amazing job.”

“I think my team played as hard as they could today, and I’m really proud of them,” Lierz said.

Southeast’s soccer team plays again at 7 p.m. next Friday at Jacksonville State.