Southeast Missouri State women's soccer wraps up season with win over UT Martin as individuals set records
The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team celebrated Senior Night and sent the 2016 season off with a victory as it defeated visiting UT-Martin 4-1 on Thursday night at Houck Stadium.
Southeast got a pair of goals from Esmeralda Gonzales and tallies from Paige Blankenheim and Natasha Minor to end the season at 9-6-4 overall and 3-4-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Minor's strike was the senior's 12th of the season and 28th of her career, leaving her one goal shy of the program's all-time record and third on the single-season list. She also finished second in career points, while setting the top mark for career shots.
Angie Mann, one of the seniors honored, had an assist, as did Lauren Kaempfe, Jasmin Hilliard and Shay Darga.
Kaitlin Kuznacic was honored alongside Minor and Mann as a part of the Senior Night festivities.
UT Martin's Nicole Collins opened the scoring in the fifth minute, but Blankenheim answered back in the eighth minute, directing in a cross from Kaempfe.
Minor gave the Redhawks the lead for good seven minutes later.
Gonzales scored in the 61st and 88th minutes to wrap up an impressive freshman campaign with six goals.
Junior goalkeeper Kindra Lierz had five saves while setting the school record with 5,298 career minutes.
Despite winning two straight to close the season, Southeast will miss the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2009. The Redhawks lost in the championship game a year ago.
UT Martin (4-14, 1-9) also failed to make the tournament cut.