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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The No. 2 seed Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team will make its fourth consecutive postseason appearance when the Colonels face the winner of No. 3 seed UT Martin and No. 6 seed Eastern Illinois in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Friday at 5:00 p.m. EST at host Southeast Missouri’s Houck Stadium.

UTM (11-6-2, 5-3-1 OVC) and EIU (5-11-2, 4-5-0 OVC) square off on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. EST.

While still seeking its first-ever OVC Tournament win, EKU (7-9-3, 5-3-1 OVC) is one of only four teams in the conference to qualify for postseason play each of the last four years, and the Colonels have now finished as regular season conference runners-up twice in the last four years to solidify themselves as one of the top programs in the OVC.

EKU has postseason history with both UTM and EIU. In their first-ever OVC Tournament appearance in 2008, the No. 2 seed Colonels played the No. 3 seed Skyhawks to a scoreless draw, only to fall in a heart-breaking shootout. Senior Stephanie Murray, then a freshman, was named to the OVC All-Tournament team for her performance in that game, and she also buried her shot in the decisive shootout. Last year, No. 5 seed EKU was edged by No. 4 seed EIU, 2-1, in the first round of the OVC Tournament.

Despite the history, the Colonels defeated both of their potential opponents during this year’s regular season.

EKU has been paced all season by a formidable defense that did not allow multiple goals in any OVC game. That backline is led by Murray, second team All-OVC defenders Deja Tennon and Lauren Fant, OVC All-Newcomer team member Paige Larkin and sophomore #Emily D’Italia#. Freshman goalkeeper Annie Wickett, another Colonel named second team All-OVC, has also been a key member of the unit. In just her first season in collegiate soccer, Wickett has started all but one game in the goal for the Colonels and has recorded 80 saves and three shutouts, all while maintaining a 0.75 goals-against-average during conference play, third-best in the OVC.

In spite of its youth, the EKU offense, while not as by-the-numbers prolific as last year’s record-setting attack, has been balanced and opportunistic. Freshman Devon Saini leads the Colonels with four goals and one assist, while sophomore Nicole Donnelly and freshmen Stephany Ellison and Ashley Ryan have all scored two goals. Nine different Colonels recorded assists during the regular season.

Red-hot UTM won four of its last five OVC games down the stretch to earn the No. 3 seed in this year’s tournament; however, the Colonels dispatched the Skyhawks, 2-1, at home early in the conference season. Second-half goals by Ryan and Larkin proved to be the difference in that game. UTM is paced in the attack by Rosaelia Loza, who scored eight goals and dished out three assists this season, while OVC Defensive Player of the Year Melissa Govea heads a solid Skyhawk backline.

Conversely, EIU limps into the OVC Tournament having lost four of their last five games. In fact, if new conference member SIUE, which defeated EIU in the regular season finale last weekend, was eligible for postseason play, the Panthers would not be in the tournament at all. EIU is known for its vaunted defense, and that defense allowed only two goals through its first six OVC games (one a game-winning own goal against EKU), before surrendering five scores in its last three conference games. Second team All-OVC forward Kristin Germann leads the EIU offense with 12 points on five goals and two assists.

The winner of Friday’s game will advance to the OVC Tournament championship game on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2:00 p.m. EST.

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