Unbeaten Southeast Missouri State soccer team posts emotional victory over Florida Atlantic

Southeast Missouri State's Alexis Hacker leaps into a group celebration after Natasha Minor (22) scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Redhawks victory over visiting Florida Atlantic on Sunday at Houck Stadium in the annual Meg Herndon Game.

Josh Mlot

It was a performance that would have made Meg Herndon proud.

On a day that was all about remembrance -- honoring former Redhawks defender Herndon on September 11 -- the Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team gritted out a 1-0 victory over Florida Atlantic.

Southeast (6-0-1) got a 50th-minute goal from Natasha Minor off a corner kick and then withstood some nervy moments to post a fifth shutout in seven games and remain unbeaten on the year.

Southeast Missouri State senior Natasha Minor and Cindi Silvey, mother of former Redhawk Meg Herndon, share a moment during a halftime ceremony honoring Herndon on Sunday at Houck Stadium. Minor was the recipient of the Meg Herndon Scholarship and scored the game-winning goal to lift Southeast over Florida Atlantic, 1-0, in the Meg Herndon Game.

Josh Mlot

"We felt coming into the game that FAU would be one of our biggest challenges of the year, to be honest," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said. "We went to their place last year and they beat us 2-0. The losses they've had, two are to top-10 teams in the country. They have a great coach and a great program. We thought it would be a nail biter and a very entertaining game. To be honest, I could watch that soccer all day.

"We talked about it being 9/11 today, we talked about playing in the image of Meg, and I thought they left their hearts and souls on the field today. I can't ask for anything more. I'm blessed to coach them."

Herndon was killed after she was struck by truck while driving a scooter in 2012, when she was a senior for the Redhawks. Her family -- mother Cindi Silvey, father Ian Herndon, sister Molly and brother Matt -- was in attendance for the annual game, and at halftime participated in a memorial ceremony in Meg's honor.

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Silvey spoke to the crowd about her daughter and organ donation, and the family presented the university with a $12,000 check to add to the scholarship fund named in Meg's honor.

Also present was Elizabeth Moore, of St. Louis, who received Meg's kidney. She connected with the Herndon family this summer, when Silvey received an email that read, " I received my kidney from Meg."

Moore is the only donor recipient the family has met. Another, who received Meg's liver, died early this year.

Elizabeth Moore, right, receives a hug at halftime of Southeast Missouri State's annual Meg Herndon Game on Sunday at Houck Stadium. Moore, of St. Louis, was the recipient of Herndon's kidney.

Josh Mlot

"What I was told by Cindy is that [Moore] was so ill and on dialysis that other than being alive, she really didn't have any life," Nelson said. "She couldn't spend much time with her son or the rest of her family. It's so cool to actually get to see someone who's benefiting from Meg's organ donations."

On the field, the play couldn't have been more appropriate. It was Minor, the recipient of this year's Meg Herndon Scholarship during the halftime ceremony, who put Southeast in front -- the only goal the home side needed in front of another stiff defensive effort.

"Before we came out we really wanted to bring it home for Meg," Minor said. "She has a legacy here, and we want to keep it going. She was an amazing player -- I don't like to use 'was' because I don't believe anyone is really gone. Her legacy lives on. Her passion lives on.

"We all have Meg bands that we wear to remind us every day that we carry Meg on our shoulder and in our heart. Playing for her and in front of her family, it was something very special for all of us today."

After the Owls nearly took a lead in the first minute of the second half -- a ball into the 6-yard box was cleared off the line by a defender -- SEMO broke FAU's high pressure and a cross from Lauren Kaempfe on the left side found attacking midfielder Esmeralda Gonzales near the top of the box. The freshman shielded off a defender and turned on the ball, ripping a shot to the left side of the net and forcing a diving stop from Owl goalkeeper Sydney Drinkwater.

That set up a corner kick, and Gonzales placed the ball at the near post, where Minor headed it in to the back of the net for a 1-0 edge.

Southeast Missouri State's Cassidi Tomsu battles with Florida Atlantic's Madison Caldwell for the ball during a 1-0 Redhawks victory on Sunday in the annual Meg Herndon game at Houck Stadium.

Josh Mlot

"In my head I was, 'All right, today's the day we've got to bring it home for Meg,'" Minor said. "I got a beautiful ball in from Es and just finished my chance. All credit to the team for even getting us up there and getting that opportunity so that we could score for her."

Florida Atlantic (3-4-1) wasn't done, though. A 54th-minute free kick from Sammy Rowland slipped just over the crossbar, and an Owl corner kick in the 61st minute was directed on frame only to get blocked on the line by the Redhawk back line.

"I think we definitely felt their pressure," Southeast right back Shay Darga said. "They were being strong. But we try to focus on our passes and doing what we do best to try to work through any opposition we have.

"We have a team thing where we have a three-second reset. If something goes bad, we just have to clear our minds and be ready for the next play. I think we did that well."

Rowland pinged a shot off the right post in the 68th minute, and seven minutes later Tiril Haga put a shot on frame that Southeast keeper Kindra Lierz had to reach back from a prone position and pull off the goal line with her fingertips.

Lierz finished with five saves.

Southeast Missouri State's Esmeralda Gonsalez pulls away from Florida Atlantic's Sammy Rowland during a 1-0 Redhawks victory on Sunday in the annual Meg Herndon Game at Houck Stadium. Gonsalez assisted on the lone goal.

Josh Mlot

"We knew they would continue to put us under pressure, and we even talked about the real potential for overtime," Nelson said. "So, we wanted to do anything we could to weather the storm and not roll over, and I really think as a program we did a good job of that.

"I just think both teams did a really great job of not ever quitting, and that's another thing we talked about. Meg was a fighter. Elizabeth was in the stands today and has fought for a second chance. How can there be anything we do on the field that's more difficult than what these people do in their lives?"

Southeast had its chances as well. Kaitlin Kuznacic forced a save -- off the hold-up play of Cassidi Tomsu -- in the 6th minute, and Gonzales had a pair of first-half opportunities that whipped just outside of the goal.

In the 74th minute the Redhawks had a chance to extend their lead when Darga put a cross onto the head of Tomsu, but Drinkwater came up with the stop. She was credited with eight saves on the day.

Southeast out-shot Florida Atlantic 18-13. Kaempfe and Minor paced the home side with four shots apiece.

NOTES: Before the game, Nelson was presented with a plaque recognizing her 200th victory leading the program. She reached the milestone with a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Aug. 28. ... Minor's goal ties her for fourth in Southeast's all-time points list, matching Alaina Lacopo's 56. Her 22 goals is one behind Ashley Runion for third. Lierz moved one back of second in career solo shutouts, with 21.