CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University women's soccer Senior Day festivities were marred visiting SIU Edwardsville, Sunday, at Morgan Brothers Field. The Lady Gov offense never seemed to get in gear against the Cougars, dropping a 1-0 decision to drop them out of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Austin Peay (9-2-2, 4-1-1 OVC) suffered its first home loss since Sept. 23, 2012, a streak that saw the Lady Govs go 7-0-1 over that span. The loss to SIU Edwardsville (9-3-3, 3-2-1 OVC) coupled with Eastern Illinois' 2-1 victory at Murray State puts the Panthers back into first place in the OVC with 15 points, two ahead of Austin Peay and three up on UT Martin. It's also the first time Austin Peay has been shut out since last season's 2-0 OVC Tournament championship loss to UT Martin.

Austin Peay's normally dynamite offense was severely limited by SIU Edwardsville's possession-based brand of soccer. The Lady Govs attempted just six shots, putting four on goal, and managed just two shots after halftime. Senior Tatiana Ariza, the leading scorer in the OVC, was held to just one 22nd-minute shot on goal.

Senior Andy Quiceno had the best opportunity on the afternoon. She headed in a cross from her sister Joceline in the 31st minute but was whistled for offsides and the goal was waved off.

The Cougar offense came to life in the second half. After attempting just two first-half shots, SIU Edwardsville tested the Austin Peay defense multiple times over the final 45 minutes, breaking through in the 74th minute. A booming Tory Pitts free kick was touched to Christine Martinez by Kourtney Price and Martinez finished the play, breaking the scoreless tie and giving Austin Peay its first home deficit in 2013.

The goal was the first allowed by Austin Peay to SIU Edwardsville since the Oct. 31, 2010 match, spanning 363 minutes. The Cougars nearly got another goal from a Cassidy Sherman header in the 84th minute, but it was cleared off the line and away by the Austin Peay defense.

Sophomore Courtney Sheppard forced a save from Cougar netminder Jennifer Pelley in the 88th minute, one of only two Lady Gov shot attempts in the second half and the only one coming after SIU Edwardsville had taken the lead. Pelley took the win with a four-save effort, while her Austin Peay counterpart Nikki Filippone was saddled with her first loss since Sept. 15, making two saves.

Austin Peay closes out its home regular-season slate with a 7 p.m., Friday match against Morehead State.