Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Southeast Missouri
Racers Look to Solidify OVC Position in Final Regular Season Matches
10/21/2010 5:17:45 PM | Women's Soccer
The Murray State women's soccer team looks to clinch a spot into the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the Racers close out the regular season schedule with a home match against Southeast Missouri Oct. 22 and a road contest to conclude the season Oct. 24 at Eastern Illinois.
MSU has made up ground in the OVC standings, picking up points in each of its last four conference matches. Currently sitting in third with a 3-2-1 conference mark, five conference tournament slots remaining and six teams separated by four points, the Racers will need to continue their hot streak to solidify entry into the OVC Tournament against fifth place Southeast Missouri and seventh place Eastern Illinois.
“We know we have two really important games for us, that we're going to play some tough competition, head coach Beth Acreman said. “It's really tight for points in the conference right now so, we really need to come out and play these games with as much energy and passion as we can.”
Defenseman Audrey Wilson scored her first goal of the season and second of her career as the Racers won their lone match of last week in a 1-0 victory at UT-Martin. Her header in the second half off of a corner kick from Sophie Hargreaves held up to be the game-winning goal as goalkeeper Tara Isbell was solid in net, recording her seventh shutout of the season as MSU won its first road match on the year.
Southeast Missouri (7-7, 3-3 OVC) has struggled as of late, failing to score in matches against Morehead State and Tennessee Tech after having previously won three straight 1-0 results. Five of the Redhawks' seven wins this season have come in 1-0 matches. MSU won last season's lone contest as Kalli McCoy scored early in the first half to earn the 1-0 victory.
Eastern Illinois (5-8-4, 2-2-2 OVC) currently sits in seventh, one spot shy of qualifying for the OVC Tournament after winning just one of its last four conference matches. In that span, the Panthers tied OVC leader Morehead State 0-0 and defeated second place Eastern Kentucky 1-0. The Racers are just 3-6-3 against Eastern Illinois, but scored the first three goals, all in the first half, in a 3-1 win last season.
“Our girls need to step up the intensity this weekend against two good teams,” Acreman said. “Offensively, we've had to ask players to be individually good, to do some things on their own, and when we have those attacking players playing well we're going to see a lot more opportunities to score.”
The Racers will be holding Senior Day festivities Friday afternoon, honoring seniors Tara Isbell, Laken Dirkes, Kalli McCoy, Katie Wilson, Audrey Wilson and Rachel Longley in a ceremony before the 3:00 p.m. match.
