Southeast Missouri State women's soccer opens OVC play with 4-1 loss to Murray St.

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team opened conference play with a 4-1 loss to defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State on Thursday at Houck Field.

It was scoreless at halftime. Murray State (5-1-1 overall, 1-0 conference) took the lead three minutes into the second half on a goal by Caroline Ashton. Abby Jones scored on a penalty kick 14 minutes later to give the Racers a 2-0 lead.

SEMO's Esmie Gonzales halved that deficit with a free-kick goal in the 67th minute, but Murray State put the game away with another goal off a PK, this time by Miyah Watford, and an Emma Heise goal in the 86th minute.

SEMO (2-5, 0-1) returns to the field at 2 p.m. Sunday, when it hosts UT Martin.