Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Soccer team all in for 2018

Monday, August 13, 2018
Esmie Gonzales sprints the ball into enemy territory against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Oct. 22, 2017
By Joshua Dodge ~ Photo Editor

The Southeast women's soccer team hopes to build on a strong spring exhibition season this fall.

Last spring, Southeast scored four goals and beat a Murray State team which ended their 2017 season with a 1-0 loss in the championship game of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Head coach Heather Nelson said it was as impactful a spring she could recall in her nearly 20 years at Southeast.

“We were definitely very much a work in progress last year, and I think some of our pieces [started] to come together during the spring,” Nelson said.

When asked about the young talent, as well as upperclassmen returning from injuries last season, Nelson could not hide her excitement.

“This year we have way more depth, way more versatility, we’re fit, we’re extremely driven right now that this season could be really special,” Nelson said.

Last season's leading scorer, junior Esmie Gonazales, is among the returners for Southeast. Gonzales led the Redhawks in goals (8) and assists (3), earning her First Team All-OVC honors. Gonzales, who also lead the team in shots (72) and shots on goal (33), said just two days into practice she could notice a difference in the environment surrounding the team this season.

Gonzales, who started all 20 games last season playing 1,502 minutes last season, looks to continue to carry a large workload for the Redhawks this upcoming season.

“Honestly I’m working my heart out for my seniors, that’s what I’m doing this year, and I’m fighting for my team. I’m doing what I can,” Gonzales said.

“I’ve been doing a lot more since last year, and I just want to prove to them that I’m there for them and I’m going to fight for them no matter what,” Gonzales said.

The senior group includes defender Maddie Karstens, who has started in all but one match over the past two seasons.

Nelson also alluded to the teams positive attitude this fall.

“I have had some upperclassmen tell me that they are so happy to be a part of the program right now,” Nelson said. “As much as they want to be the starter on the team, they also will be very happy for a player to win their spot, if in the best interest of our team.”

Coach Nelson said that as of now, she has options at every position on the field and that she has a very open idea of the style of soccer her team will play in 2018.

“We have a very good idea of [what we want], and [we] recruited to a formation that we feel like brings out the best of SEMO soccer,” said Nelson. “We pick players based on character, and we don’t make too many mistakes about it. I think those players are living up to those expectations.”

Redshirt Sophomore Maddie Gleeson played the entire exhibition match as goalkeeper for the Redhawks on Aug. 6.

Nelson said along with the positive spring exhibition season, the coaching staff went to the National Coaching Convention in January in Philadelphia. This was the first time they were all able to attend this convention together.

“[We] tried to draw from really the best in the world, from Barcelona's coaches, from Liverpool’s coaches...We just went with the pros, and we said,‘Look, if it’s working for them, then we are going to have to figure out a way that it will work for us,”’ Nelson said.

The coaches are ready, as are the players.

“This team is fighting for each other, we’re not just like one specific person, we’re a whole team,” Gonzales said. “I feel like it’s going to be a great year.”

Southeast opens its 2018 season at home when it hosts Evansville at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at Houck Field.

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