Southeast soccer ties UTM, searches for first win

A team that has been among the Ohio Valley Conference's top women's soccer squads for most of this decade isn't used to struggling for goals, let alone wins.

But that's the situation Southeast Missouri State finds itself in these days.

The Redhawks scored just their second goal of the season Sunday, but couldn't make it stand up for their first victory.

Tennessee-Martin, which controlled much of the match at Houck Stadium, netted the tying goal in the final 5 minutes of the second half.

The squads settled for a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute, sudden-overtime periods.

Southeast is 0-5-2 overall and 0-1-1 in OVC play, while UTM is 6-2-2 and 1-0-1.

Southeast sophomore Kristi Frick admitted to some frustration about the Redhawks' inability to record a victory this season.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Southeast Missouri State's Lauren Lacopo heads the ball away from University of Tennessee-Martin's Stephanie Nilica during the first half Sunday at Houck Stadium.

"A little bit," she said. "We work so hard. It's slowly coming together. We just want it to come together sooner."

Frick, who scored Southeast's goal Sunday, said the Redhawks remain confident they'll eventually put things together.

"At first it was like, 'When are we going to score a goal?'" Frick said. "Now it's, 'When are we going to get a win?'

"But it'll come. We're working hard for it."

Southeast coach Heather Nelson expected the youthful Redhawks to experience some growing pains this season.

The Redhawks lost seven starters from last year's team that captured the OVC regular-season championship and its second straight OVC tournament title.

Injuries to several key players also have slowed Southeast's development.

"We're disappointed we couldn't hold the lead, but we're getting better. We're learning how to compete," Nelson said. "In the second half and the overtimes, I think we had one senior on the field."

With a little more than 4 minutes left in the first half, Frick headed in a corner kick by sophomore Mabel Velarde that was mishandled by goalkeeper Johanna Rathbun.

That was Southeast's only dangerous scoring chance of the match, while the Skyhawks had numerous opportunities.

The Skyhawks finally cashed in with 4:21 left in regulation when Melissa Govea beat Jessica Beckham from close range.

UTM outshot Southeast 24-5 and had a 14-1 edge in corner kicks. Beckham made six saves.

Southeast began OVC play Friday with a 1-0 home loss to Murray State.

Nelson considers the Racers and Skyhawks to be among the OVC's top contenders.

"We just have to keep getting better," Nelson said.