Box Score
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team started Ohio Valley Conference play with a thrilling 2-1 win over visiting Southeast Missouri on Friday night at the JSU Soccer Field.
The win improved JSU to 3-7-1 on the season and its first OVC season-opening win since the 2007 campaign. SEMO dropped to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in the OVC. Both teams return to action on Sunday as JSU welcomes Eastern Illinois to Jacksonville for a 1 p.m. clash, while SEMO faces Austin Peay. APSU shutout EIU 1-0 on Friday.
The Gamecocks held off a late charge by the Redhawks after SEMO trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the 60th minute. Jax State withstood an onslaught as the Redhawks finished with a 19-8 shot advantage.
“We knew they were going to make a run at us as the OVC is a very competitive conference,” said JSU head coach Julie Davis Carlson. “This win was well needed for them to believe in themselves. This is a small step forward, but sometimes the small ones are the biggest.”
JSU broke the scoreless contest ten minutes deep in as junior
Chelsea Pelletier scored her first of two goals with a rebound off the SEMO keeper. Senior
Alex Rustad was credited with the assist on the goal. The tandem of Rustad and Pelletier would combine to put JSU up 2-0 in the 25th minute as Rustad fed Pelletier, who squeaked the ball out of reach of the keeper. Pelletier led the Gamecocks with four shots, three on goal. Rustad also tallied a pair of shots.
“Chelsea (Pelletier) got her job done tonight,' added Carlson. “She created opportunities and you have to have a little faith with her second goal. “We had a game plan and our kids stuck to it.”
SEMO's second half goal came off the foot of Ashley Runion with the assist credited to Signe' Novak. JSU keeper
Ali Koenig staved off six Redhawk scoring chances.
JSU will host Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Day at Sunday's EIU match. All participants in the local organization's soccer program are invited to watch the Gamecocks continue OVC play. Admission is free to all JSU home matches.
