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Austin Peay State University Soccer at Southeast Missouri with playoff hopes on the line

Austin Peay State University Sports Information

APSU Soccer - Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s soccer team faces its most critical test yet, traveling to take on Southeast Missouri looking for a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, 2:00pm, Sunday, October 21st, 2018.

Austin Peay Women's Soccer travels to Southeast Missouri Sunday needing win for OVC Tournament berth. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Women’s Soccer travels to Southeast Missouri Sunday needing win for OVC Tournament berth. (APSU Sports Information)

Buckle up, since there are some scenarios for the Govs (8-7-1, 3-5-1 OVC) as well as the Redhawks (4-8-3, 2-4-3 OVC) to qualify for the tournament.

After games on Thursday and Friday, the Govs have seen themselves move from seventh to ninth place in the OVC, all without playing an opponent.

Third through tenth place in the conference are only separated by an insane four points, meaning it is basically eight teams vying for six spots.

A win would guarantee the Austin Peay State University Govs a place in the OVC Tournament. The Govs (10 points) would jump one of Tennessee Tech (11 points) or Eastern Illinois (12 points) since those two teams play each other and there is no result that has both teams on at least 13 points if the Govs win. If the Govs draw, they have to rely on other results and tiebreakers. A Govs loss and they would miss out on the tournament.

For everyone to understand the tiebreakers, they are as follows:

1. Head-to-head record between tied teams

2. Best result against higher-ranked teams between/among tied teams (for example, look at results against first-place UT Martin; if same result, look at results place Murray State, etc..)

3. Goal differential between/among tied teams

4. Goal differential between/among all teams

5. Coin flip

Here are the two scenarios that would give the Govs a berth into the OVC Tournament:

1. Austin Peay win

2. Austin Peay draw AND Tennessee Tech loss (both teams at 11 points, Austin Peay wins head-to-head tiebreaker)

By our calculations, the Austin Peay State University Govs can finish no higher than fifth. The Govs need a big-time result on the road as well, as they have not won a road conference match since September of 2016 (4-3 win over UT Martin). A win would exercise the road demons that have haunted the Govs recently.

 

Opponent Spotlight

Something that could help the Govs against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks are fresh legs. The Redhawks have played four straight matches that have went into overtime and six of their nine total conference games have also went into overtime. The Redhawks are only 1-2-3 in those games though.

SEMO is led by Esmie Gonzalez, who has scored seven times and scored the opener in SEMO’s eventual overtime loss against Belmont on Thursday. The Govs are 6-10-2 all-time against the Redhawks and are winless in the last three meetings. After a 1-1 draw in last season’s regular season meeting, the Redhawks knocked the Govs out of the first round of the OVC Tournament.

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