Redhawks claim title, reach NCAA tournament

~ Southeast defeated Morehead State 2-0 to win its first OVC tournament title.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team had been close to an NCAA tournament berth before, losing narrow decisions in the 2001 and 2002 Ohio Valley Conference tournament finals.

But this year the Redhawks finally broke through.

Southeast, seeded fourth in the six-team OVC tournament, claimed its first title by beating second-seeded Morehead State 2-0 Sunday afternoon.

And now the Redhawks are headed to the NCAA playoffs for the first time by virtue of the OVC's automatic bid.

The Redhawks (10-7-2) will learn who, when and where they will play when the NCAA bracket is revealed today.

"It's wonderful to be bringing the championship back to Cape Girardeau," said Southeast coach Heather Nelson, who began Southeast's program from scratch in 1999 and has led the squad to an impressive 88-44-14 record. "It's a fantastic feeling to make history for the program."

Said sophomore Casey Kraft, named the OVC tournament's most valuable player: "Oh my gosh, this is absolutely amazing. It's so great, I'm kind of at a loss for words."

Southeast, which is assured of its seventh straight winning record, actually posted its fewest regular-season victories since that initial season of 1999, which marks the program's only losing campaign.

But the Redhawks caught fire at just the right time by winning three OVC tournament games after they entered the event with only a .500 record.

"Our team really came together and it couldn't have come at a better time," Kraft said.

The Redhawks blanked visiting Austin Peay 3-0 in Tuesday's first round, then rallied from a 2-0 second-half deficit to stun top-seeded and host Samford 3-2 in double-overtime in Friday's semifinals.

That marked Southeast's first win over Samford, which has captured all four regular-season OVC championships since joining the conference in 2003.

"That win was huge. We knew that was the game that would make or break us," Nelson said. "After we beat them, I really felt like that was the championship game. We went into the finals thinking it was ours for the taking."

The Redhawks went on to pull away from Morehead State in Sunday's final, scoring both goals in the second half.

Junior midfielder Margie Schaeffler put the Redhawks ahead for good in the 66th minute as she headed in a corner kick from sophomore Megan McGrath.

"That goal really broke the ice for us," said Southeast assistant coach Paul Nelson, who is a former professional player and also Heather Nelson's husband. "Our second half was very good. I think we were maybe a little more fit than them."

Kraft added insurance for the Redhawks when she scored an unassisted goal in the 81st minute off a deflected pass.

Junior goalkeeper Lindsay Pickering posted her ninth shutout of the season as she was credited with four saves. Southeast outshot Morehead State 17-14. The Redhawks had nine shots on goal to just four for the Eagles (8-8-3).

"I think we were going on all cylinders in this tournament," Pickering said. "We were really all on board together."

Joining Kraft -- who scored four goals and had an assist in the tournament -- on the all-tourney squad from Southeast were Pickering, Schaeffler and senior defender Jessi Wuellner.

"I'm just really excited about winning the title and it's a good way to finish my soccer career," said Wuellner, one of only two seniors on the squad. "Everyone worked really hard this weekend and we put it together this afternoon."

Of her MVP award, Kraft said, "It's nice to get that, but really it could have gone to anybody on our team. The team just really came together."

Kraft scored two second-half goals in the semifinals against Samford after Southeast fell behind 2-0. She then assisted on Alaina Lacopo's game-winner with just 26 seconds left in the second and final sudden-death overtime.

Heather Nelson said moving Kraft from defense to forward when the Redhawks fell behind Samford by two goals ignited Southeast's comeback.

"That completely changed the game," Nelson said. "She just had an absolutely terrific performance Friday night, and she had a great tournament."

Southeast did not have anybody voted to the all-conference first team that was announced Thursday on the eve of the tournament semifinals.

Nelson expressed plenty of disappointment in that.

"We have athletes that should have been on the first team," Nelson said. "But this makes up for it big time."

Added Paul Nelson: "This is absolutely unbelievable for the girls' sake. They battled so hard and they really deserve this."