BEAUMONT, Texas – Senior forward Natalie Hager has scored many goals in her HBU career, but none have been bigger than her golden goal Thursday evening that lifted the Huskies past Southeastern Louisiana, 2-1 in two overtimes, in the Southland Conference quarterfinals at the LU Soccer Complex.

"It's great to pick up a win at the conference tournament," said HBU head coach Misty Jones. "Once again, the girls fought hard and found a way to win. Patty [Walrath] had another solid performance in goal. Blake [Martin] and Natalie [Hager] came up with big goals for us tonight. It was a great team effort."

Hager took a team-high five shots, while she and Blake Martin had two shots on goal for third-seed HBU (9-6-4). Hager and Martin scored goals for the Huskies, while Ellee Hall and Casey Basso registered assists.

Patty Walrath recorded her third double-digit save game of the season, as she stopped 10 shots. There was one team save.

Kayla Vera took a match-high six shots for Southeastern Louisiana (12-8-0). Gisenia Utreras had five shots and scored the Lady Lions' goal.

Hope Sabadash made six saves in the losing effort in goal.

SELA almost took a 1-0 lead in the 16^th minute, as Utreras' shot was stopped by a Huskies' defender. The Huskies cleared the ensuing corner kick.

HBU took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Martin in the 37^th minute, as she headed in a corner kick pass by Hall.

Shots were even at 10-apiece, as HBU continued to lead at the break, 1-0. The Huskies led in shots on goal and corner kicks, 6-5 in both categories.

SELA came out firing to start the second half, as the Lady Lions had two shots and a corner kick in the first 10 minutes. SELA tied the match in the 65^th minute as Utreras scored off a deflection.

Utreras narrowly gave the Lady Lions a 2-1 lead six minutes after her goal, as her shot attempt hit the cross bar.

HBU weathered the storm, as the two teams entered overtime. The Lady Lions outshot the Huskies, 13-7, in the half and had a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The first overtime was full of shots, as both teams took four attempts, but only Walrath was busy, as she made four saves.

After clearing a Lady Lion corner kick in the 108^th minute, the Huskies were awarded their own corner kick a minute later. Hall took the corner, passed it to Basso, who sent the ball into the box that was headed in by Hager with only 53 seconds remaining until penalty kicks.

That was the only shot attempt in the second OT, as SELA outshot HBU in the match, 27-22. Corner kicks were 11-9 in favor of the Lady Lions.

HBU will now face second-seed Sam Houston State in the conference semifinals Friday at 4:30 pm.