Despite valiant performance, Southeast Missouri State women's soccer falls to top seed Murray State in OVC semifinal

Southeast Missouri State seniors Paige Blankenheim and Shelby Beussink (24) hug following a 1-0 loss to Murray State in a semifinal of the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at Cutchin Field in Murray, Kentucky.

Josh Mlot ~ Southeast Missourian

MURRAY, Ky. -- All season, the Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team refused to be defined by the obstacles it couldn't control -- the injuries, the unfriendly scheduling.

On Friday, the Redhawks showcased that trademark resiliency. It just wasn't quite enough.

Fifth-seeded Southeast matched or bettered top seed and host Murray State in many phases of the game but not the most important one -- goals -- as the Racers grabbed a first-half strike and dropped the Redhawks 1-0 in an Ohio Valley Conference semifinal at a muddy Cutchin Field.

Miyah Watford scored her fifth goal of the season in the 29th minute for Murray State (14-1-2), which has not lost a conference contest this season and hasn't dropped a home league game in even longer than that.

Southeast Missouri State's Shay Darga attempts to clear the ball away from Murray State's Rebecca Kubin during a semifinal of the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at Cutchin Field in Murray, Kentucky. The Redhawks lost 1-0.

Josh Mlot ~ Southeast Missourian

SEMO (8-8-4) had the better of possession and trailed in shots at the final whistle only 6-5, but managed just two shots on frame despite numerous attacking opportunities.

"It's difficult because all the months and years of work they put in, you just want it all to come together for them," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said. "I think we worked more as a unit today and created more good problems in front of goal and crosses and things that probably could have fallen the other way.

"I don't have any regrets. I think they gave it everything they had today; I thought the game plan was executed well and against a quality opponent. [The Racers are ranked in the top 30] in the country and have had a phenomenal run. I thought we ran with them and did everything right with them except for one shot."

The Racers got that one, critical shot in the 29th minute, when Emma Heise headed the ball into the box and Watford was able to control it, turn and run toward the center of the 18-yard box. In doing so, the speedy attacker created enough space to shoot back across her body, catching Southeast goalkeeper Kindra Lierz dead to rights, moving to her right and with little chance to make the stop.

That was the difference: Murray State put its best chance on goal, while the Redhawks saw too many quality half chances slip away without a final touch to test Racers goalkeeper Alex Steigerwald.

"You know, I thought it was an even game. They put more chances on frame than we did, and I really think that was the difference today," Nelson said.

" ... I thought the margins were very slight, to be honest, and I thought our game plan was good. I'm very proud of our team and how they played today. I thought it was a great game."

Prior to Watford's goal, SEMO had controlled the tempo for the first 20 minutes or so. But a possession advantage didn't turn into goals, as none of the Redhawks' three shots on goal in the first half went on frame.

Murray State was able to pin Southeast back for a period of about 15 minutes late in the opening half, and that was enough to squeak out the game winner.

"Semifinals are always going to be tight," Murray State coach Jeremy Groves said. "Full credit to SEMO. I thought they played really well today, and we looked nervous. I don't think we were at our best, and I think half the credit goes to them. They played extremely well. Probably the best I've seen them play all season."

That was evident in the way Southeast bounced back after conceding, coming out in the second half and continuing to possess the ball and get into the attacking third. The result was a handful of quality opportunities in the final 45 minutes. But again, the final product wasn't there.

"In that second half I thought we came back strong," Nelson said. " ... I thought it was optimistic and they dug down and we didn't go very deep in our roster. We let the players that got us here lead the charge."

The Redhawks' first good look of the second half came in the 54th minute, when a ball into the box created some danger, bouncing before Esmie Gonzales was able to get off a quick, lofted shot that forced a save by Steigerwald.

Just 4 minutes later, a short free kick sent Gonzales into the right corner. Her cross eluded a leaping Steigerwald, leaving a wide open net, but the ball just slipped by Maddy Cornell at the far post and SEMO came up empty.

Southeast's last quality look came in the 85th minute, as Lexi Grote lifted a shot from about 30 yards out that seemed to catch Steigerwald just a bit off guard. The goalkeeper stepped back into the net and reached up for the ball, grabbing it and holding it out just in front of the goal line to prevent it from crossing.

SEMO subbed off right back Shay Darga in the 87th minute in favor of attacker Katie Lever, but time ran out on the Redhawks' season.

" ... I was a little disappointed in our midfield shape today," Groves said. "SEMO overran us a little bit in midfield at times, but our back three played pretty well and Alex made a couple key routine saves.

Southeast Missouri State's Lexi Grote tries to get a shot off in front of Murray State's Cori Cain during a semifinal of the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at Cutchin Field in Murray, Kentucky. The Redhawks lost 1-0.

Josh Mlot ~ Southeast Missourian

"I'm happy. We survived and advance. It was kind of a little bit what it was."

Murray State will face No. 3 Eastern Kentucky for the OVC Tournament championship Sunday at 1 p.m. The Colonels defeated second-seeded Tennessee Tech 1-0 in the second period of extra time in Friday's other semifinal contest.

The loss snapped a five-game win streak for Southeast, which returned to the tournament after missing the field in 2016.

"This team will probably go down in my mind as being one of the most resilient teams we've had, to be honest," Nelson said. "With the schedule -- it's unheard of to have five road OVC games (in a row). That's just incredible to begin with. And if they weren't mentally strong and didn't believe in all the things we were doing behind the scenes, they could have easily just thrown the towel in in midseason. But we really focused on the process and we knew what we were doing and that we were getting better, and I think that paid off for them.

"We knew at some point if we were going to win the OVC we'd have to beat Murray, or at least in all likelihood. ... We knew that as soon as the draw came out. But this particular group were happy with that challenge. I think because of all that we've been through and how we responded to it, we were up for anything. For me, that was really exciting, because they embraced all those road blocks we had here."

Look ahead

Nelson feels good about what the season's final stretch means for her program, which graduates five seniors but returns six starters and 11 of the 16 players who stepped onto the field Friday.

"We'll probably have a very competitive program going forward because we had five players that didn't even dress out this season, to be very honest," Nelson said. "Plus a huge group of newcomers coming in."

Despite the semifinal loss, the season-ending run also provides a nice jumping off point for the Redhawks. SEMO finished fifth in the regular-season standings -- right where the preseason poll put it -- but the way it did so may have defied some expectations.

"In some ways, I think we may have exceeded other people's expectations ... and I think this run has been very, very good for us," Nelson said.

"I can't thank my seniors enough for the leadership they've provided this year. I told them that they've left our program in a very strong position moving forward. As hard as this is right now, my hat and my heart goes out to them for everything they've done to leave us in such a good position."