CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – An early goal by Southeast Missouri State freshman midfielder Alayna Jakul was too much to overcome Thursday night for the visiting University of Evansville women's soccer team, as the host Redhawks held on for a 1-0 victory over UE at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

In the fifth minute, SEMO junior midfielder Maddie Paulson was able to send a ball across goal from the right side that just alluded the lunge of Evansville sophomore goalkeeper Sophie Lindner and found Jakul inside the six-yard box, who headed it home for her first career goal.

SEMO would mount constant pressure through the first 30 minutes, before Evansville was able to respond, and put three shots on goal in the final 15 minutes, but SEMO freshman goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink stopped all three to maintain a 1-0 advantage.

In the second half, UE was the aggressor, firing 10 shots in the final 45 minutes, including three more on goal, but Elfrink and the SEMO defense stood tall.  Evansville had a near miss with just over 12 minutes to play, as senior Kristen Harvey just missed wide on a nice back-heel combination play with fifth-year midfielder Nicole Benati.  Elfrink also made a diving save of a low missile from fifth-year forward Emily Ormson in the 85th minute to preserve the final scoreline.

"I think that we came out flat tonight, and SEMO did a good job of starting the game on the front foot and putting us under pressure," said UE head coach Chris Pfau.  "I thought in the second half, we did a better job of not waiting for things to happen.  We got forward better and did some nice things, but could not find the equalizer."

With the loss, Evansville falls to 1-2-2 on the season, while SEMO improves to 4-3 overall.  Evansville will try to bounce back on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. central time, as the Purple Aces will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana to take on IUPUI.