NATCHITOCHES, La. – Freshman
Olivia Rossman pulled HCU even early in the second half but Northwestern State netted the game-winner in the 74
th minute to take down the Huskies in Southland Conference women's soccer action on Sunday afternoon at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.
Northwestern State (6-10, 4-5 SLC) had a couple of early shot attempts from Taylor Spitzer with the second hitting the right post in the 10
th minute. Over the next six minutes, HCU (5-10, 3-6 SLC) goalkeeper
Chloe Bagshaw made a pair of saves to keep things level, 0-0. In the 21
st minute, senior
Ryan Ford found some space inside the 18-yard box but her attempt missed a bit high over the crossbar.
The Lady Demons found the net in the 38
th minute after Bagshaw made a save off a tricky shot by Halee Griffin but the rebound fell right back to Griffin's feet and she scored to make it a 1-0 game. The Huskies had a strong opportunity in the 43
rd minute when
Alexa Huerta played a ball into the box toward the far post and
Emily Jaimes put a header on target but it was stopped and cleared wide by NSU keeper Libe Banuelos. The Lady Demons led 1-0 at the break.
Freshman
Olivia Rossman took control of the ball in the middle of the 18-yard box in the 52
nd minute, made a move to her left to get space from a defender and fired a shot between two Lady Demons just inside the left post where Banuelos couldn't handle it to tie the score at 1-1. With less then 30 minutes left, NSU got a through ball to a sprinting Emme' Fernandez who got behind the defense but Bagshaw came out to challenge and made a huge save to maintain the 1-1 tie.
A few minutes later, off a free kick, the Lady Demons got the ball down to Dawson Marrs whose centering pass found Julia Pinho Magno who put the ball into the top of the net for a 2-1 NSU lead. The Huskies managed just one more shot on goal the rest of the way and had a free kick in the final seconds into the box that was cleared out by Banuelos.
Rossman's goal was her third of the season and her first in Southland play. Huerta led the Huskies with four shot attempts with two on target. Bagshaw finished the game with three saves.
Both teams put seven shots on goal with HCU holding a slim 16-15 edge in total shot attempts. Northwestern State earned five corners to the Huskies' three.
The Huskies close out the 2023 regular season with Senior Night on Friday, Oct. 27, at Sorrels Field against UIW at 5:00 p.m.
