CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Jacksonville State soccer team opened the final weekend of the season with a 2-0 setback to Ohio Valley Conference leader Southeast Missouri on Friday night at Houck field on the SEMO campus.

The loss eliminated the Gamecocks from the OVC postseason and fell to 4-13 overall and 1-8 in the league.  The Redhawks improved to 7-1-1 in the conference and will head into Sunday's regular season finale with a one-point edge over Murray State for the regular season crown.  JSU will conclude the season in Martin, Tennessee against the Skyhawks of UT Martin.  Match time is set for 2 p.m.

SEMO posted both goals within a two-minute span of the first half with both coming in the first 16 minutes of the match.  Hailey Block put the Redhawks on the scoreboard with a shot in the box from a pass in from the left side in the 15th minute.  SEMO's Jennifer Brien took an assist from Block moments later for the second goal.  The Redhawks finished with 23 shots on the night, while limiting JSU to one in the second half.

"We had a rough start in the first half and the first goal by SEMO was well worked and the second one we gave the ball away," said head coach Neil Macdonald.  "I think we struggled on the turf surface tonight and we didn't create much offense but we defended well throughout."

Senior Cheyenne Carden recorded Jax State's shot in the second half.

A season plagued with limited numbers came into effect throughout the week leading into the final road trip as JSU trained with nine players.

"We had people out with sickness all week and out of practice," added Macdonald.  "Alicia Pallister has been out all week and out of practice, but she bravely played all 90 minutes tonight.  I thought Reilly Kucko also showed a lot of toughness after dealing with an injury this week and still battled tonight."

The Skyhawks posted a 2-1 decision over Tennessee Tech on Friday.  Sunday's contest will be available on ESPN+, the online streaming platform of ESPN.