The Southeast Missouri State University women's soccer team concluded its season on Nov. 4 with a loss in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. For seniors Nikki Edwards, Shona Goodwin and Vanessa Hart, it was an emotional moment as they concluded their soccer careers at Southeast and their time as soccer players in the United States.

"It's discouraging to work hard and not be able to see those results," Goodwin said. "This year we found what needs to be done to win, and we had a good time doing it."

Goodwin and Edwards are from Calgary, Alberta, in western Canada. They heard about Southeast from Canadian coaches Heather and Paul Nelson, who coach Southeast's team.

"The biggest influence was my recruiting visit," Edwards said. "I really like the style of play, the girls and the coaching staff, so it really made my decision easy."

Goodwin and Edwards thrived at Southeast on the field as well as in the classroom. Edwards played every game during her Southeast career, and both became members of the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioners Honor Roll.

"The recruiting process is very important when selecting players for the team," Nelson said. "They have come in skillful and have that grit that you want in a player.

"You can mold a player to a certain degree, but recruiting is your bread and butter."

Hart and junior defender Hayley Abbott, who are from Australia, knew each other before attending Southeast. Hart was directed to Southeast from the New South Wales Soccer Association in Australia. Nelson made a connection with the director, whose job is to guide students who want to study in America to the right college based on where they reside in Australia. Abbott and Hart come from a smaller town, so a small school like Southeast was a perfect fit for them.

"The opportunity in America as far as the balance of athletics and education was my biggest influence that brought me to Southeast," Hart said. "I saw an opportunity to get an education and play on a competitive level of soccer."

Nelson said every Australian player that has played for Southeast has fit very well into the team's possession-oriented style of play and often control the flow of the game.

They often control the flow of the game.

The team experienced success on the field, compiling a record of 12-6-1 overall and winning the regular season OVC championship. With veteran leadership and the skill set of freshman additions in the offseason, the goals of the team were far within reach entering tournament play.

"We had a goal now that we worked toward this year. As compared to years back it isn't a lofty goal, it's pretty realistic," Goodwin said.

Since the Redhawks' loss in the second round of the OVC tournament, Edwards, Goodwin and Hart are finishing up their degrees and heading back to their home countries soon. For Abbot, it's another season of optimism and working towards the ultimate goal of winning the OVC tournament.