BOX SCORE
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team suffered its first conference defeat of the season on Friday night as the Colonels were edged by Southeast Missouri State, 1-0, at Houck Stadium. Courtney Luehmann scored her second consecutive game-winner in the 60th minute to give the Redhawks the home victory.
The Colonels (6-5-2) and Redhawks (7-5-0) are now tied at 3-1 in the OVC.
“We played some of the best soccer we’ve played all year,” head coach
Lindsay Basalyga said of her team’s performance. “Unfortunately, though, we weren’t as dangerous in the attack as we have been in past games. I think this game just brings us back to reality after our recent success, and I’m excited to see how the team responds on Sunday.”
Following a scoreless first half, Leuehmann notched her fourth goal of the season just 15 minutes into the second half when she received a pass from Bobbi Jo Schlick and scored in the lower right corner of the goal to put the Redhawks up 1-0. Luehmann’s goal proved to be the game-winner as the SEMO defense blanked the Colonels the rest of the way.
The loss snaps EKU's five-game win streak.
EKU was outshot in the game, 13-10. Freshman
Brittany Nomady led the Colonels with three shots, one of which was on goal.
Senior goalkeeper
Stephanie Lynch allowed just one goal – only the fourth goal she has allowed in the Colonels’ last seven games – and made three saves in the losing effort.
Goalkeeper Ashton Aubuchon recorded the shutout and made three saves for the Redhawks.
Seven Colonels – Lynch, Nomady, redshirt freshman
Lauren Fant, freshman
Tess Akgunduz, sophomores
Deja Tennon and
Hayley Wright and junior Stephanie Murray – played all 90 minutes of Friday’s tense conference showdown.
EKU defeated SEMO in similar fashion last year when senior Carly Muller scored an opportunistic second half goal (86th minute) to give the Colonels a 1-0 win.
EKU returns to conference play on Sunday when the Colonels travel to Charleston, Ill. to play Eastern Illinois at 2:00 p.m.
