Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast soccer team takes victory over EKU

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

In a game controlled by Southeast Missouri State Redhawks women's soccer team in the first half and more back and forth in the second, Southeast (7-5, 4-2) was able to push across a late goal to edge Eastern Kentucky (3-12-1, 1-5-1) 1-0 Friday night at Houck Stadium.

The Redhawks had some early chances in the first half as only 10 minutes into the game, Southeast executed a give and go play that lead to one of the team's six corner kicks in the first 45 minutes. The ensuing corner led to a scramble in front of the net that was cleared by the Colonels.

The pressure was again applied only a minute later, when senior forward Breana Beine used her speed to streak down the right side of the field and dished a pass to sophomore forward Natasha Minor. She made a shot that was deflected away by the Colonel goalkeeper.

The best scoring chance for Eastern Kentucky came midway through the first half when Colonel junior midfielder Amani Thomas and Redhawk freshman goalkeeper Kindra Lierz raced toward a ball. Lierz tries to clear the ball but it glanced off Thomas and was then booted away by a Redhawk defender.

Southeast outnumbered the Colonels in the way of shots (7-3) and corner kicks (6-2). Yet the score remained tied at halftime.

Eastern Kentucky came out with more fire in the second half as a free kick from midfield came close when no one touched the ball and it bounced over the crossbar for a goal kick.

With 20 minutes remaining in the game, an Eastern Kentucky cross was kicked into the box and Lierz stepped in front of a Colonel player for a key save to prevent a score.

Beine was the go-to-player in the second half for the Redhawks as she was pressuring the goal in the second half. She had several chances to score with two shots and a few good crosses in front of the net.

Finally with only four minutes left, Beine found the scoring column as a pass from junior midfielder Jenna Collingridge found the foot Minor who passed to Beine. The St. Peter's native found a gap in the defense and beat the goalkeeper on the near post to give the Redhawks the lead.

The goal was Beine's team leading sixth of the season.

"I try not to think of team leading stats like that. I just focus on helping this team win," Beine said.

Beine credits Minor for setting her up for the score.

"We've played together on this team for two years," Beine said. "That's created a wavelength where we know where each other will be on the field."

Southeast was able to hold off several crosses in the final minute from Eastern Kentucky to hold on for their fourth Ohio Valley Conference victory and seventh overall.

Southeast coach Heather Nelson thought that the substitutes were the difference in the victory.

"We used a lot of depth tonight," Nelson said. "I really think the players that came off the bench to start the second half played a huge role tonight."

Nelson would prefer a more convincing win, but it's a victory all the same.

"I get gray hair from games like this," Nelson said. "It's nice to get up early on an opponent, but give credit to Eastern Kentucky for holding us up for 86 minutes."

The Redhawks will have their senior day on Sunday, where five players will play their final game at Houck Stadium against Morehead State at 1 p.m.

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