Rachel Essner
Staff Writer
After a season of unprecedented success, the Murray State soccer team looks to prove their rightful place as the No. 1 seed in the OVC Tournament by taking on the SEMO Redhawks in the semifinal game on Thursday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at Cutchin Field.
The Racers have a 9-1 overall record this season, ranking first in the OVC while the Redhawks are ranked fourth with a 6-3-1 overall record.
Murray State will enter the game with a plethora of conference recognition after the 2021 regular season. Freshman forward Chloe Barnthouse earned the OVC Offensive Player of the Week and senior defender Izzy Heckman became the OVC Defensive Player of the Week. In addition, Barnthouse and Heckman have been named to the All-OVC First Team while sophomore defender Saraya Young and sophomore midfielder Lauren Payne have been named to the All-OVC Second Team. Barnthouse, sophomore defender Audrey Henry and sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Villacres were named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team.
The end of the season awards continued to pile up as Head Coach Matt Lodge was named Coach of the Year and Heckman became OVC Defender of the Year.
SEMO has also produced OVC honors. Junior midfielder Lauren Welker made All-OVC First Team, and freshman midfielder and forward Emma Brune made All-OVC Second Team and OVC All-Newcomer Team.
Murray State previously faced SEMO in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Friday, April 2, where the Racers defeated the Redhawks 3-1, becoming the OVC Regular Season Champions. Two goals from sophomore forward Lilly Strader and one from senior forward Rebecca Kubin gave the Racers the win over the Redhawks.
Barnthouse has a team-high seven goals in the 2020-21 season, followed by Kubin and Strader with four apiece. Eight different Racers have scored throughout the season.
Junior forward Abby Jones broke Murray State’s record for all-time assists, collecting 24 total in her career and three in the 2020-21 season.
Villacres tallied 31 saves during the season while only giving up nine goals and has earned three shutout games this season.
Welker leads the Redhawks with five goals , followed by junior midfielder Abby Tremain with two. A total of 10 different Redhawks have scored throughout the season.
The winner of the semifinal game will go on to play the winner of UT Martin versus SIUE for the championship round at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 17.
