Rachel Essner
Staff Writer
The Murray State soccer team traveled to Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Friday, April 2, to take on Southeast Missouri State University, where the Racers triumphed 3-1 to become the OVC Regular Season Champions.
The SEMO Redhawks were the first to score after sophomore defender Saraya Young was whistled for a handball inside the penalty box, sending SEMO’s junior midfielder Lauren Welker up to the line to shoot the penalty kick in the 11th minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Villacres deflected the shot, but Welker was able to put away the rebound, giving the Redhawks a 1-0 advantage.
Murray State fought back with a kick from Young to freshman midfielder Hailey Cole, who passed it to senior forward Rebecca Kubin to take the ball down the field and put the ball in the net for the equalizing goal.
The teams entered halftime tied 1-1, with Murray State outshooting SEMO 5-4 and each side earning one corner kick during the first 45 minutes.
Murray State took the lead four minutes into the second half when freshman defender Camille Barber passed the ball to sophomore forward Lilly Strader who found the net on a shot 13 yards out, giving the Racers a 2-1 lead.
Strader struck again with less than three minutes remaining when she put the ball in the top corner of the goal. This gave the Racers the final goal and a 3-1 lead in the 42nd minute of half two.
The Racers’ defense shut down the Redhawks, as they only allowed one shot in the second half while the Racers’ offense totaled eight shots. Villacres had two saves on the night.
Kubin scored her 26th career goal to give her sole possession of the No. 5 spot on Murray State’s all-time scoring list, passing Jackie Thomas (2000-03) at 25.
Strader earned the first multi-goal game of her career while Barber and Young collected their first career assists and Cole picked up her second career assist.
“Kubin came up big to equalize and then the two goals from Lilly Strader were just fantastic,” said Head Coach Matt Lodge. “I think this is the best we have knocked the ball around all season.”
The Racers earned their fifth OVC Regular Season Championship title, previously winning in 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2017. With the Racers taking the No. 1 seed, the OVC Tournament will be held at Cutchin Field on April 15 and April 17, where the Racers will compete in hopes of winning their fifth OVC Tournament trophy.
“It’s massive for us to have the tournament at home,” Lodge said. “We know how well we do at home but we have to remain smart because it is not a given just because it is at home.”
The Racers will return home to Cutchin Field to compete against Eastern Illinois University in their last regular season game on Tuesday, April 6, at 1 p.m.
