Redhawks soccer settle for 1-1 tie

The Southeast soccer team surrendered a game-tying goal with less than two minutes remaining,then played two scoreless overtime periods before settling for a 1-1 tie with Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Sept. 27th at Houck Field.

Katie Shaffer headed from the right side of the box for EKU(4-5-2,0-1-2) beating the Redhawks goalkeeper Bailey Redden, who later made a couple saves in the two overtime periods. The Colonels used that momentum early on in the first overtime period getting three shots off. Leading into the second overtime

period, things started to settle down with both teams had equal opportunity at getting a goal with two shots a piece.The Colonels outshot the Redhawks 17 to 13 for the game.

Southeast (2-7-1),seeking its first conference win of the season, got off to a fast start when junior midfielder Esmie Gonzales scored 32 minutes into the game. Gonzales shot the ball into the left side of the net.The goal brought her season total to four, which leads the team, on a team-high 22 shots.

“I saw an opportunity when the defense shifted right, and I went around her to kick it in the left corner, and it went in,” Gonzales said.

Southeast coach Heather Nelson said the Redhawks’ plan early in the game was to be aggressive on the defensive side of the ball to create opportunities on offense to start the game. They took advantage of the defensive pressure they provided which led to their early goal to start the game. Keeping the ball on their side of the field.

By applying pressure, the Redhawks limited the Colonels to only three shot attempts in the first half.The Colonels came out with a better attack in the second half.The Colonels out shot the Rehawks 9 to 6 in the 2nd half. Eventually leading to a costly breakdown in the defense with minutes remaining in the game that surrendered the goal that tied the game.

“We can’t control the results, but we can control how we play, and I think we played very well tonight,” Nelson said. “ So over time, if your process is right, then the results will track your training.”

Former Southeast assistant coach Adam Kelman was on the Colonels sideline as first-year assistant with Eastern Kentucky. Kelman was an assistant coach for the Redhawks from 2014 through 2017 before returning to Eastern Kentucky,where he was a graduate assistant.

“I am happy he is still in the league but we wish he was still on our side. We think very highly of Adam,” Nelson said.

The Redhawks next match will be on Sunday, Sept. 30, when they host Morehead State. The game will start at 2 p.m.