Lady Cougar soccer team has a chance for first in GLVC

Rick Crossin
Sports Editor

The SIUE women's soccer team will head into the last weekend of conference play with a few things at stake.

The Lady Cougars (11-3-2) will put their 10-game unbeaten streak on the line this weekend against Quincy University and the University of Southern Indiana.

Also on the line for SIUE is the top spot in the conference.

The Lady Cougars are tied with Northern Kentucky University at the top of the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 7-0-2 record.

Head coach Brian Korbesmeyer knows the importance of this weekend's games and makes sure his players do as well.

"I tell them everything right down to what their chances are and what we need to do," Korbesmeyer said. "I don't try to sugar-coat it because whenever you're caught in a lie like that, you're done. You'll never have their trust when you talk to them about a serious matter."

If both teams were to win both games this weekend, things could get very interesting when it comes to seeding in the conference tournament.

If SIUE were to finish on top, the Lady Cougars would receive a bye in the first round of the tournament and would be the host of the semifinals and finals of the tournament.

If SIUE were to finish in second, third or fourth place, it would not receive a bye in the first round but would be the host of its first-round game and would have to travel for the semifinals and finals.

According to GLVC rules, if two teams are tied at the end of the regular season, the deciding factor would be head-to-head competition during the season.

Unfortunately, Northern Kentucky and SIUE tied in their only match of the season.

So then the GLVC rules state the following, "head to head competition with the remaining institutions in order of standing."

To put that in English, this means that the tie would be broken by whichever team has the best record against the lower teams in the conference.

SIUE and Northern Kentucky have played the University of Missouri-St. Louis, but Northern Kentucky defeated UMSL and SIUE tied, giving the edge to Northern Kentucky.

"It looks like if we both finish the same that they are going to be the host," Korbesmeyer said.

Unfortunately, Northern Kentucky tied Lewis University, the last place team in the conference, while SIUE defeated Lewis.

"That doesn't make any sense to me," Korbesmeyer said. "I'm going to call the league office once this comes out. But this is all premature, we still have to win."

SIUE's first game will be on the road at Quincy for Friday's game.

Quincy ranks seventh in the GLVC with a 3-5-1 record and 5-8-1 overall.

Last season, SIUE blanked Quincy 5-0, but Korbesmeyer believes this season will be a much tougher game.

"This year they are very erratic," Korbesmeyer said. "But, they are at their place and they are playing for pride and it will make their season if they beat us."

The Lady Hawks rank near the bottom of the conference in both team scoring and team defense, while their goalkeeper, Jennifer Varrone, gives up 1.72 goals per game.

SIUE's Beth Louderman gives up 0.82 goals per game.

After the game, SIUE will make the 155-mile trip back home for Sunday's match against Southern Indiana.

The Screaming Eagles are nipping at the heels of SIUE in the conference with a 7-1-0 record. Their only loss came at the hands of Northern Kentucky.

Southern Indiana ranks first overall in the conference in team defense, allowing a microscopic 0.4 goals per game.

Part of the reason for such a number is goalkeeper Heather Heseman, who leads the GLVC with a 0.23 goals against average.

"All the indications I get from people is that they are very fast," Korbesmeyer said.

SIUE may want to do a bit of scoreboard watching in the game, as Northern Kentucky faces off St. Joseph's College and Indiana University Purdue University-Fort Wayne this weekend.

Both St. Joseph's and IUPU-Fort Wayne have sub-.500 records overall, but St. Joseph's has a 6-3 record in conference.

Friday's game will start at 7:30 p.m. in Quincy, while Sunday's game will start at 3 p.m. at Bob Guelker Field.....