Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast soccer records first victory

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Southeast Missouri State University senior forward Courtney Luehmann scored her first goal this year to put the Redhawks up 2-1 in the 59th minute against Drake University. The goal secured the team's first lead and first win of the season.

"The team fought for the ball and it came back to me and I shot it. It was a good team effort, it wasn't just me tonight," Luehmann said. "We definitely needed the win tonight."

Southeast coach Paul Nelson was happy about the team's performance and hopes it can build off the 2-1 win over Drake.

"Courtney has done an outstanding job given the fact that she's never played forward before," Nelson said. "For her type of game, you know, she's kind of like Shaq. She's not going to outrun most people, but she can hold the ball up and distribute and that's what she's effective with. She's done a tremendous job for not even playing that position."

The Redhawks and Bulldogs were tied 1-1 at halftime. Sophomore forward Erin Shulman scored for Southeast in the 21st minute on a penalty kick after being fouled.

Drake's only goal was a free kick that deflected off Redhawk defender Hayley Abbott in the fifth minute.

"On the corner kick we didn't close down properly," Nelson said. "The ball came in and the ball was at a level for too long, at a dangerous level."

Southeast and Drake each had 12 shots on goal during the game. The Redhawks were able to put pressure on the Bulldogs and had seven corner kicks.

"We put parts of games together where we looked decent," Nelson said. "Everybody will feel the back forwards played well-organized. "We confronted and defended the right part of the field instead of chasing them down to their 18-yard line. It made us more condensed, which means we get more people around the ball. That's the way we play, that's the attitude we usually have."

Senior goalkeeper Renee Kertz played all 90 minutes for the Redhawks and made six saves.

"All tonight it was all about them and they knew what they had to do," Nelson said. "I thought they performed very well."

Southeast's victory over Drake improved their record to 1-2-1 and Drake fell to 2-3.

The Redhawks will travel to Lexington, Ky. for the Tropical Smoothie Invitational. They face Louisville at 4 p.m. Friday.

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