Draw Enough For Consecutive OVC Titles For Racers

Thursday, October 27

Clarksville, Tenn.

7 p.m.

Murray State

9-4-4, 7-0-3

Austin Peay

10-6-3, 5-2-3

OT 3

OT 4

Murray St.

Austin Peay

Photo by: Ed Marlowe/Paducah Sun

10/27/2016 5:33:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)2016 OVC Soccer Bracket

The Murray State Racers clinched their second-straight Ohio Valley Conference women's soccer championship when they came away with a 0-0 draw against the Austin Peay Governors at Morgan Brothers Field in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Racers came into the final game of the regular season knowing exactly what they had to do, after Eastern Kentucky had defeated Tennessee Tech earlier in the day 1-0 in Richmond, Kentucky. The win by the Colonels forced MSU to beat APSU in order to take the OVC title outright. However, a tie was enough for the Racers to win a share of the OVC title because they defeated EKU head-to-head 3-0 on Oct. 9.

Taking the championship means the Racers will again host the OVC Tournament at Cutchin Field in Murray, Ky., as the No. 1 seed.

The Racers ended the regular season at 8-4-4 overall and 7-0-3 in OVC play.

This one was a hard-fought battle in one of the fiercest rivalries that you'll find. Each team created chances to score and each time, either the defense stopped the threat, or the goalkeeper did. Murray State's defensive effort helped them produce their eighth clean sheet of the season for keeper Alex Steigerwald who stopped all four shots she faced. The last one was a brilliant save inside the final minute of the second overtime.

The Racers had 10 shots on the night with four on goal. MSU's leading scorer Harriet Withers took six shots, but couldn't get one in for the Racers.

MSU head coach Jeremy Groves watched his team give it a go in a tough match against a tough opponent.

"This was an extremely hard-fought match," he said. "I'm so proud of the girls and how hard they fought to get this one tonight. We're very happy to win the OVC title and we're looking forward to hosting the OVC Tournament at Murray State next week. We'll get some rest when we get back home and get back to work."

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Game Notes
Today was Murray State's ninth all-time scoreless draw since the program was started in 2000. Their last was at Northern Kentucky on Aug. 25 of 2013. In 2010, MSU played four such games.

The Racers have been nothing short of amazing in the Coach Jeremy Groves era that is in its third season. Under Groves, the Racers are 35-18-4 overall and 24-3-3 in OVC play. This includes two OVC regular season titles and an unbeaten streak that is now 21 games.

The game at APSU was the 17th meeting in the series. MSU leads 11-4-2 and has won or tied in the last five.

The game also marked another meeting in the Battle of the Border sponsored by Heritage Bank.

The 2016 OVC Tournament starts on Sunday (Oct. 30). Here is the schedule of games that will eventually crown a champion on the Racers' home pitch at Cutchin Field.

2016 OVC SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
CUTCHIN FIELD – MURRAY, KY
FIRST ROUND – Sunday, October 30 (@Campus Sites)
No. 6 Belmont at No. 3 Tennessee Tech – TBA
No. 5 Austin Peay at No. 4 SIUE – TBA

SEMINFIALS – Friday, November 4 (@Murray State)
No. 2 Eastern Kentucky vs. No.3/No. 6 winner – 11 a.m.
No. 1 Murray State vs. No. 4/5 winner – 2 p.m.

FINALS – November 6 (@Murray State)
Championship – 1 p.m.