The women’s soccer teams of the OVC have all begun their 2021 seasons. With conference play still over a month away, each team has plenty of time to work on things and prepare for bigger matches later in the fall.

Going through the teams in order of their position in the standings last season, Murray State has picked up this season where they left off. 

After finishing last season 9-1, and winning the conference by seven points, the Racers jumped out to a 2-0 record to nonconference play this season. 

They opened with a 6-1 win against Missouri State and then beat Louisiana Tech 3-2 three days later, with both matches coming at home. 

Murray State leads the conference with its nine goals, with three from senior forward Abby Jones and two from redshirt-senior midfielder Symone Cooper. Jones leads the conference in goals and Cooper is tied for second. 

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, last season’s second-place finisher, is the only OVC team that has not played two matches this season.

The Cougars had their opener with Chicago State canceled and then they lost 3-0 to Loyola Chicago. 

Tennessee Martin is off to a 1-0-1 start this season after finishing the spring at 6-3-1. The Skyhawks beat Southern Illinois 2-0 in their opener and played Little Rock to a scoreless tie. 

Southeast Missouri also finished last season 6-3-1, and are now one of four OVC teams with a 1-1 record to start out the fall. 

Belmont has yet to score this season in two matches, and is one of two teams with an 0-2 record as a result. Both losses have come on the road, one to Middle Tennessee and one to Evansville. 

Tennessee Tech, Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky each finished last season 4-5-1. 

Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky are no longer in the OVC, both having left to join the ASUN Conference.

Tennessee Tech remains in the OVC, and is off to a 1-1 start with a 1-0 loss to Vanderbilt and a 1-0 win against Liberty. 

Austin Peay and Eastern were tied last season at 2-7-1. 

The Governors have a pair of 2-0 losses so far this season while the Panthers have gone 1-1.

Eastern lost its opener 3-1 against Indiana State before beating Illinois Springfield 3-0. 

Eastern midfielder Nicoletta Anuci is tied for second in the conference with two goals this season, both coming against Illinois Springfield. Panther goalkeeper Faith Davies is one of two OVC goalkeepers to have recorded a shutout this season. 

Three Panthers make up the top three players in the OVC in shots, with defender Eva Munoz leading the way with six. Anuci and junior forward Zenaya Barnes are tied for second with five shots apiece. 

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].