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SEMO SOCCER NOTEBOOK: Gonzales blossoming into key influence for Redhawks
Southeast Missouri State's Esmie Gonzales passes the ball while being defended by SIU Edwardsville's Lindsey Fencel during Sunday's game at Houck Field.
BEN MATTHEWS
The moment was, at the start, innocuous. Or so SIU Edwardsville thought.
What could Esmie Gonzales possibly do, hemmed in by two defenders on the left touch line 20 yards out from goal?
She could do, it turns out, what Esmie Gonzales does.
The Southeast Missouri State sophomore slipped by the first Cougar, cut in front of the second and then charged toward the center of the field. Trailed by an SIUE player, Gonzales looked for a moment to get a shot off on her right foot, but the space wasn't there. So she stopped. On a dime. And watched the helpless Cougar go skipping past.
The buildup was spectacular and effortless enough, but then came the moment that makes the attacking midfielder different than most -- unable to drop her shoulder and drive a shot with her hips over the ball, Gonzales had the presence of mind to, in a split second, recognize she only had one option left. So she swung her leg straight back, hinged it at the knee and sent a somehow blistering toe poke 20 yards past SIUE goalkeeper Juli Rossi.
It was, perhaps, the Redhawks' best goal of the season, from an entertainment standpoint.
Southeast Missouri State midfielder Esmie Gonzales spins away from SIUE's Katie Jordan during a home game Oct. 15, 2017 at Houck Field.
Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian
More importantly, it tied the game at 1. And 20 minutes later Gonzales came through again, putting her team ahead for good by pinging a shot off the right post and in as SEMO defeated SIUE 4-1 on Sunday.
It was her second consecutive brace, following up a Friday performance in which she scored two of her team's three goals in a victory over Eastern Illinois.
Against the Cougars, Gonzales' goals broke a good deal of tension after an excellent first 45 minutes by Southeast still saw the home side trailing 1-0 after an own goal.
It wouldn't be fair to say the midfielder put her team on her back -- there were a number of great performances across the field for the Redhawks -- but it wouldn't be amiss to say that she, once again, offered inspiration.
She may wear jersey No. 11, but she has undoubtedly become, in soccer parlance, her team's No. 10 -- the creative engine with the ability to change a game with a moment of magic.
As the Redhawks coaching staff pushes its squad to embrace risk in the attacking third, it is Gonzales who you see take on three defenders, or spin around a midfielder or try to send in a teammate with a backheel.
Gonzales showed up in Cape Girardeau last year with the kind of resume that opens eyes after setting a national high school record with 316 goals at South Hills in Fort Worth, Texas. But high school statistics can be deceiving, and there was always the question of how the pint-sized attacker -- coming in at under 5-feet on the tape measure -- would adjust to the college game.
As a freshman, she led the team in assists (5) and was second in goals (6) while showing flashes of her technical skill paired with shifty feet and a low center of gravity that makes it difficult for defenders to body her off the ball.
As a sophomore, though, Gonzales seems to be blossoming into something even greater.
"I think she's really started coming into her own right now," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said. "She is a very complete player and a very respectful player. A lot of times for Es, she doesn't want to overstep players that are older than her, out of respect. I appreciate that in her, (but) I also want her to understand that to me she's a point guard ... and the point guard is the dealer of hope. That's what Esmie does when she has the tremendous work rate and she's so calm in critical situations and she's fearless in risky situations. I just think when she plays that way it inspires other players to do so."
Against SIUE, Gonzales made her impact felt even when the Redhawks didn't have the ball, buzzing around the midfield and harassing opposing players before transitioning her team into the attack.
With pressure on Southeast to perform down the stretch and return to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament after missing out last year, the sophomore has been at the heart of positive rise in form for the Redhawks.
"She's a phenomenal player," sophomore forward Jennifer Brien said. "It's always amazing to be able to play with her and she makes everybody around her better. She definitely teaches you a lot on the field. You know if you just work hard out there that she'll make things happen."
Meg's memory
Sunday's contest served as the program's annual Meg Herndon Game, honoring the memory of the former SEMO soccer player while raising awareness for organ donation.
Herndon was killed in a vehicle crash in 2012, and in the time since her organs have helped 17 recipients.
Herndon's family was in attendance Sunday, as it is every year, as Southeast honored her legacy and her mantra -- "Impossible is nothing" -- with a pregame ceremony and halftime video presentation.
"This is a huge day for us," Nelson said.
The moment was unique in that Herndon also had connections to the SIUE team, including being close to current Cougar Krista McMahan.
"I think the world is a lot smaller place than people realize sometimes, and we have connections with their program -- both with a player, Krista McMahan, and even through (coach) Derek Burton and his family, who have connections to the same parish that Meg's family went to," Nelson said. "They were so open to helping us to honor her today. I'm very thankful to them and to all the programs in the OVC that really get what the best way is to honor her."
Meanwhile, the Redhawks put together an on-field performance their coach believes pulled inspiration from the lessons Herndon left behind.
"Today was quite fitting, with controlling what you can and life is going to be full of failures and facing your fears," Nelson said. "It was gut-wrenching for that (own) goal to go in because we had played so well, but at the same time, it's soccer. I wanted them to understand that we had played well and we were going to go out and leave everything out on the field and we still had a position of control for the game. We were going to own the house and play for Meg, and I believe that's what you saw in the second half."
This year's recipient of the Meg Herndon Scholarship was redshirt freshman goalkeeper Maddie Gleeson. The Herndon family also presented a $15,000 contribution to the scholarship fund.
JB's return
Sunday marked a return to the field for Brien, who had not played since Sept. 28 at Murray State due to injury.
After sitting out a three-game stretch, the striker subbed on against SIUE and played 41 minutes, contributing an assist and helping in the creation of a number of attacking opportunities.
Southeast Missouri State sophomore Jennifer Brien leaps to maintain possession of the ball during a home game against SIUE on Oct. 15, 2017 at Houck Field.
Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian
The feeling was a welcome one for Brien, who has been one of the many walking wounded for the Redhawks this season.
"You know, it's definitely been hard," Brien said. "I wanted to be out there so bad, but it's been great to be able to watch the team do so well on the field, and just taking a step back and seeing how we play. I trusted my trainer so I knew I would get back soon, so you just have to be patient and good things will come."
Final prep
Southeast will enter its final regular-season game vs. Jacksonville State on Sunday with everything on the line.
With the OVC pecking order up for grabs at most every spot, there are scenarios that could see the Redhawks finishing anywhere from fifth to ninth, the latter of which would leave them in the same position as last year -- one spot out of the OVC Tournament.
SEMO needs at least a draw against the Gamecocks to clinch a postseason berth. A loss would leave Southeast's fate in the hands of others.
That sets up a key week of preparation for the Redhawks.
"For us, to be honest, it's all about habits. It's really about the little things for us," Nelson said. "It's getting the ball down on the ground, it's picking the right pass, it's changing the field -- the point of the attack -- and knowing what third of the field you're in to make the right decisions. ... I think sometimes people think it's more than it is. For us, it always comes down to good habits reinforced every day and with the commitment and consistency."
Nelson said the coaching staff will break down film and figure out the best tactical approach to bolster Southeast's strengths while attacking JSU's weaknesses.
The fact that SEMO only needs a draw to reach the tournament won't be given much consideration in pregame planning, according to Nelson.
"I think, first and foremost, we really pick our formation based on how we feel we can be most successful with them," the coach said. "I think there might be a point in the game where if it is tied we might become a little more defensive. If we're behind, we're going to go for it. I'd rather lose by two or three goals than sit back and lose by one. That will be somewhat dynamic on the day, and in the meantime we need to make sure we take this week to get them as prepared as possible for any formation we might need."
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