Southeast soccer team wraps up preseason with win

~ The Redhawks soccer team went 2-0 in exhibition play

Going undefeated in exhibition play does not guarantee a successful season.

But the Southeast Missouri State soccer team figures it can't hurt.

The Redhawks wrapped up their two-game exhibition schedule Wednesday afternoon with a 2-0 home win over NAIA McKendree (Ill.) University.

That came after Saturday's 1-0 home triumph over Evansville.

"It's a good start to see where we're at, see what we need to work on," senior Ashley Runion said. "We've played good, but we can be better."

Southeast coach Heather Nelson knows the Redhawks will have to be much better because she wasn't all that thrilled with Wednesday's performance.

"Solid in the first half but not good in the second half," said Nelson, who believes the Redhawks wore down in the final period on the hot, muggy day.

Still, Nelson was pleased overall with the way the exhibition schedule went.

"We got to get a look at everybody," Nelson said. "It's certainly an advantage to get a better idea where people can contribute.

"We've got a young team [with nine freshmen and eight sophomores] and we're still learning our system."

Runion scored Wednesday's first goal off an assist from junior Shona Goodwin less than six minutes in.

Southeast had several other solid chances in the opening half before McKendree controlled much of the final period.

The Redhawks added their last goal with just more than six minutes left when sophomore Courtney Luehmann scored on a breakaway.

Luehmann, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, received a pass from freshman Jacey Boyko, who earned the assist.

Freshmen goalkeepers Ashton Aubuchon and Jessica Grindstaff shared the shutout for Southeast, which outshot McKendree 10-6.

Next up for the Redhawks is Sunday's 2 p.m. season opener against what figures to be a tough Belmont squad from Nashville, Tenn.

Belmont shared last year's Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season title.

"We have a great team to open against," Nelson said.