SEMO Soccer Falls to SIU Salukis 1-0 in Hard-Fought Battle

SEMO soccer lost to the SIU Salukis by a score of 1-0 on Thursday August 22.

The first half consisted of a struggle for possession in the midfield, accompanied by a physical battle, as there were six fouls in the first half and two yellow cards.

With 20 minutes left in the first half, the Salukis had a chance to score, shooting the ball inside the 18 yard box, only for the shot to bounce off the crossbar, and keep the game scoreless going into the second half.

The second half opened largely the same as the first with both teams fighting for possession and creating chances to score.

With 25 minutes left in the second half the Salukis found their breakthrough. After the Redhawks failed to clear a cross into the 18 yard box, the ball fell to a Saluki forward who put it in the back of the net.

Despite this, the Redhawks kept pressing forward, looking for a chance to level the score, using a mix of build up play and through balls to create chances.

With 21 minutes left in the second half SEMO had a chance to equalize. A through ball over the defense was played to sophomore midfielder Justi Nelson dribbled, who dribbled around the keeper and shot, only to have her shot cleared off a line by a defender, leaving the Salukis up 1-0

Three minutes later the Redhawks registered another shot on goal, as senior midfielder Elizabeth Rater fired a shot on goal from outside the 18 yard box, which was saved by the keeper.

Despite the mounting pressure from the Redhawks the Salukis defense was able to hold out for a 1-0 win.

Although the Redhawks lost, Head coach Heather Nelson was not disappointed but rather encouraged by the way the team performed.

“ It was a significant improvement from our first two games. It shows that we have a lot to build on. We're still very young, we’ve lost half of our starting lineup, and we're three games in, so it's going to be a process. We have to lean into it and maybe learn the hard way,” Nelson said.

Junior forward and player of the game Cayla Koerner echoed coach Nelson’s thoughts saying that this game is a step in the right direction and that it is just lacking the finishing touches.

“I think we possessed really well, in the midfield, and we just couldn't possess it up top. We got very close a couple of times, we had three shots on goal, we just got to capitalize on those shots and finish them,” Koerner said.

Senior midfielder Elizabeth Rater mentioned that the Redhawks could improve in specific areas to better develop for their next game.

“(We could) definitely still work on switching the field, especially having our forwards check back and be able to connect through all of the thirds, and not just them in the final third, and finish our chances,” Rater Said

The Redhawks next game is against the Indiana State University Sycamores, on Sunday, September 1, at 1 p.m.