Racers finish OVC play undefeated

Story by Mark McFarland, Assistant Sports Editor

Murray State finishes the OVC regular season with a 2-1 win over Austin Peay State for the first perfect 10-0 finish in conference history.

Murray was able to grab an early lead in the first half with a goal from Taylor Richerson, junior from Murray, in the seventh minute of the game. The assist came from Harriet Withers, sophomore from Murwilumbah, Australia. The Racers however would not stop there as the team continued to push on. It wasn’t until the 24th minute for Murray State to reach the scoreboard again thanks to a pass from Richerson to Withers to give the Racers a 2-0 advantage going into halftime.

Austin Peay cut the racer lead in half with a goal two minutes into the second half.

“I thought in the first five minutes I don’t think we showed up we were still in the locker room,” said Head Coach Jeremy Groves. “But full credit to them as they were playing for their lives and came out with a lot of energy.”

The Racers were able to hold Austin Peay off the board for the rest of the game, despite being outshot 12-11 by the Governors. Withers said Racers keeper Alex Steigerwald, freshman from West Chester, Ohio, was yet again a difference maker.

“She’s amazing and I tell her every day,” Withers said. “I walk past her and I call her a superstar.”

The Racers will have the next couple days off, Groves said. Murray State will enjoy having a bye this weekend, as they prepare for hosting the OVC Tournament Nov. 6 and Nov. 8.

Murray State is the first team in the OVC to go 10-0 in the conference since they expanded the league schedule to 10 games in 2012. The last time a team was perfect in the OVC was 2002 when the Southeast Missouri State finished 6-0.

“We are having a lot of fun doing it,” Withers said. “Though we know there is a lot of work to do we all know that, but we are just having fun doing it. It is a relaxed, comforting and intense feeling.”

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