By: Matthew Fowler, NSU soccer SID
Box Score
NATCHITOCHES – An early goal from sophomore forward Hailey Altenburg in the sixth minute and a little bit of fortune led Northwestern State to a crucial 2-0 win over visiting Nicholls in Southland Conference women's soccer action Sunday.
“Any time you can get a win in conference play you are happy, but to get the first early in the season really helps shape the season for you," said NSU head coach Jimmy Mitchell after the Lady Demons went 1-1 at home on the opening weekend of SLC play.
Northwestern State moved to 7-5 (1-1 SLC) on the season and Nicholls dropped to 6-5-1 (0-2 SLC)
“Nicholls came to play today and played us very well,” said Mitchell. “Many times we thought we could get something going and they came out and destroyed what we wanted to do."
Altenburg scored her second goal of the season on a rebound from a shot of Yanci Johnson, which proved to be all that was needed by NSU.
“Hailey's goal really helped us kind of settle in, but we never really could get into a good rhythm," said Mitchell. “Nicholls was a very good team and came in the weekend pretty hot.”
Nicholls was on a five-game win streak before losing to Central Arkansas Friday night.
“They beat Louisiana-Lafayette which was a very quality win for them,” said Mitchell.
In the 41st minute, fortune came on the side of Northwestern State when Nicholls sophomore forward Melissa Pestalozzi missed a goal with a wide-open net.
“Had she (Pestalozzi) scored that goal it very well could have changed the complexion of this game,” said Mitchell. “We probably would have been tied and playing in an overtime game."
The second half was more of the same with the two teams going back-and-forth at each other with several crucial saves and stops from each goalkeeper.
Danku played all 90 minutes to earn her second shutout of the season with four saves on eight shots in the match.
Finally, in the 86th minute sophomore midfielder Cassidy Browning added to her second goal of the season to put the Lady Demons on top 2-0.
Browning took a shot that caused Nicholls goalkeeper Molly Mersereau to come out of the net. Mersereau could not catch the ball and Browning took advantage of the rebound.
“It was great for Cassidy to get that goal,” said Mitchell. “She comes off the bench and plays very unselfish soccer and I am proud that she was able to score again this season.”
Northwestern State outshot Nicholls 17 to eight, and eight of the 17 from Northwestern State were on goal.
Yanci Johnson and Theresa Halle were both extremely busy on the offensive end taking four shots each. Halle had two that were on goal. Altenburg had three shots with two on goal and Ashlee Savona took two shots.
The Lady Demons will return to the road to take on Sam Houston next Friday in a game that could prove to be crucial in conference play.
