Krishnan Collins | SPORTS EDITOR: Sarah Sodoma attempts to play the ball in the box early on in the first half. Although Sodoma was bundled over, no penalty kick was given. Sodoma got the game winning assist on a corner headed in by Dana O’Boye to give the Red Wolves a 1-0 victory.

The Arkansas State women’s soccer team defeated Southeast Missouri State 1-0 in a physical matchup on Sunday afternoon. The Red Wolves improved to 4-3 on the season while the Redhawks fell to 2-3.

Senior defender Dana O’Boye scored the only goal of the match on a Sarah Sodoma corner in the 71st minute. O’Boye knew the Red Wolves might get their breakthrough on a set piece.

“It felt great,” O’Boye said. “You know Sarah Sodoma gave a perfect ball. We knew it was coming. We had great matchups in the box and we had been practicing that all week.”

Three yellow cards were shown during the match and both teams combined for a total of 17 fouls in a hard-fought game.

“We definitely showed we were the stronger team,” O’Boye said. “They were on the ground more than us.”

The Red Wolves open conference play on Friday at ULM. A-State will carry this momentum from their last non-conference match into Sun Belt Conference play.

“We’re going to keep on pushing and try to keep getting wins,” O’Boye said. “Keep putting the ball in the back of the net for sure. It’s really great to come off a win and go right into conference.”

Game Summary- Second Half

SEMO had every opportunity to level the match late in the second half. In the 81st minute the Redhawks were awarded a free kick just outside of the box. A-State keeper Megan McClure stopped the initial shot before SEMO put the follow up attempt just wide.  With five minutes left in the match the Redhawks had an open header right in front of the Red Wolves’ goal but also missed that opportunity.

The Red Wolves found the breakthrough in the 71st minute on O’Boye’s goal. Sodoma won a corner by cutting in on her left foot from the right side of the box and rocketed a shot towards goal. The ball deflected out of bounds. On the ensuing corner Sodoma found O’Boye’s head with a brilliant ball. The Plainfield, Illinois native made no mistake and put the Red Wolves up 1-0.

In the 65th minute of the match, SEMO took a free kick from a dangerous position. The Redhawks whipped in a teasing ball but McClure jumped into the air to bring the ball into her hands.

Three minutes into the second half, Sodoma dribbled deep into the opposition’s box and was taken down. Despite many shouts for a penalty, one was not given.

First Half

A tightly contested first half led to a 0-0 draw at the break. Except for an early Red Wolves’ chance, neither team had a real, concrete chance on goal.

With essentially the last play of the first half, McClure took a short free kick just inside her own half. With the majority of SEMO’s team around their own 18-yard box, Haley Husted was played into tons of green space. However, Husted fizzed a cross over the head of everyone near the goal.

The Redhawks took multiple free kicks in the half but never troubled McClure’s goal. The best chance for the visitors came with about a minute to play in the period. A loose ball bounced to Hannah Compernolle in the box. The midfielder took a shot on the half volley but her attempt sailed over the crossbar.

A-State almost took the lead very early on in the contest. In the 8th minute Hailey Furio’s corner found the head of O’Boye. The senior defender put her header on target but SEMO’s goalkeeper came up with a good save. Sophia Restrepo could not put the ball in the net on the ensuing scram.

A-State kicks off SBC play on Friday in Monroe, Louisiana. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.

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