Box Score NATCHITOCHES --    Meghan Hunter's first career hat trick propelled Northwestern State to its biggest offensive output since the 2008 season on Friday night after the Lady Demons cruised to an 8-2 win over Texas Southern in the final wrapup before Southland Conference play begins next week.

Hunter got the scoring underway with a goal in the seventh minute off a pass to the right side from Taylor Mulnix.  But the scoring barrage didn't get underway until the 35th minute when NSU netted three goals in a span of 2:30 to quickly go up 4-0.  In the 35th minute, Cassidy Browning netted her first goal as a Lady Demon in the off of one of two Julia Ranalli assists.  She followed with another assist in the 37th minute after squeezing a pass to Nikki Saunders to make it 3-0, and just seconds later, Haley Cheshier scored her first goal of the season in the 38th minute. 

“Texas Southern came to battle and showed a lot of heart early,” said head coach Jimmy Mitchell. “We scored early, but didn't capitalize on the momentum that the first goal gave us until later in the first half."

Hunter scored her fourth goal of the season on a penalty kick after a Lady Tiger foul in the box in the 49th minute then completed the hat trick in the 52nd minute to complete the scoring for NSU.

“When we scored the second goal (scored by Cassidy Browning) we kept playing hard and started to put the game out of reach,” Mitchell said.

Yanci Johnson increased her point total to eight with an assist to Hunter and a goal on a pass from senior forward Rachel O'Steen, her first assist of the season and pulling her to within eight of the school career record.

“Once the game was under control it wasn't about the points we put up, but about the things we can do to help us win later in the season,” Mitchell said.

Texas Southern scored their two goals in the 54th minute on an unassisted goal from Garbriella Perales and in the 82nd minute on an unassisted goal from Brendaletzy Lopez.  They were the first goals of the season for the Lady Tigers.

“Unfortunately we gave up the two goals and made some mistakes,” said Mitchell.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Danku started the game and shutout the Lady Tigers in the first half before handing off the net to Sam Furlow in the second half.

The Lady Demons will take Sunday off but return to action next Friday when they host defending league champion Southeastern Louisiana to open conference play.