Otahkian soccer gets look at OVC's new teams

Southeast Missouri State University's women's soccer team will get its first look at the Ohio Valley Conference's two new squads this weekend.

And coach Heather Nelson believes the Otahkians will have to be on top of their game to continue their long OVC regular-season winning streak.

"I think the teams are good additions to the league," Nelson said. "I think they'll really test us."

The Otahkians (7-2-3 overall, 2-0 OVC) face Samford (6-2-3, 2-0) at 7 p.m. tonight and Jacksonville State (6-3-2, 1-0-1) at 2 p.m. Sunday, with both games at Houck Stadium. Southeast, Samford and Eastern Illinois are tied for first place in the OVC.

Southeast, the two-time defending OVC regular-season champion, has won 14 straight regular-season conference games, its last loss coming in 2000.

"That's something we're proud of and we want to keep going," Nelson said.

The Otahkians are having another strong season -- they went 14-4-2 last year and 16-2 in 2001 -- despite a rash of injuries that have taken down some of their top players for a good part of the year.

Junior Erin Slattery, tied for the team lead in goals with three, has a severe ankle sprain. The same goes for senior Valerie Henderson, last year's OVC Player of the Year. Both could return this weekend but more than likely will be out a while longer.

Another key player, senior Erika Todd, has a knee injury that makes her questionable for the rest of the season.

"Considering all the injuries we've had, we've been playing pretty well," junior Marla Gianino said. "We're actually starting to get some people training again, which is a good sign, and we should have some of them back soon."

Sophomore Ashley DeRoy, junior Diana Poovey and freshman Molli Beard have three goals apiece to tie Slattery for the team lead. DeRoy also has three assists to lead in points with nine. Beard, bothered by an injury early in the season, is next in points with eight as she is eighth in the OVC in points per game.

Junior goalkeeper Amanda Wrzos has four shutouts to rank fourth in the league.

Nelson said Beard and fellow freshman Jessi Wuelner have been pleasant surprises for the Otahkians.

"They're both doing very well as freshmen," Nelson said. "Jessi can play several positions and she's added a lot of speed. Molli is a very creative forward and the players like playing with her."

Nelson expects Samford to especially challenge the Otahkians tonight. The Bulldogs feature the OVC's fifth-leading scorer in Lindsay Shanks, who has 13 points on four goals and five assists, along with keeper Crystal Royall, who leads the league in shutouts with six.

Samford and Southeast have one common opponent in nationally-ranked Auburn. The Otahkians lost 2-0 and the Bulldogs fell 1-0.

"Everything I've heard about Samford, the teams should match up well," Nelson said. "It's going to be a very big game."

But playing at home, the Otahkians figure they'll be up to the challenge this weekend.

"We'll be pumped and ready to go in front of our crowd," DeRoy said. "We expect good, tough games from both teams."

Volleyball hits road

Southeast's volleyball team will try to stay in the thick of the OVC race this weekend as the Otahkians have a pair of matches in Tennessee.

Tonight at 7 p.m., the Otahkians (3-14, 2-2 OVC) face Tennessee Tech (6-10, 1-3) and Saturday at 2 p.m. they play Austin Peay (6-10, 1-3).

Earlier this season at home, Southeast swept three close games from Tennessee Tech and lost in four games to Austin Peay.

The Otahkians are in sixth place in the 11-team league but just one game out of second place. Murray State leads the way at 6-0, with Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Eastern Illinois all 3-1.