Box Score NATCHITOCHES  -- With 1:18 left in the second overtime, Chelsea Schaefer scored on a header from a free kick by Jackie Strug to give the Northwestern State soccer team a 2-1 win over Sam Houston State on Friday night in Southland Conference action.
 
Nikki Saunders gave NSU (4-7-1, 2-2-1 Southland Conference) a 1-0 lead in the 30^th minute, but a second half surge from the Bearkats (4-6-1, 2-2-0 SLC) capped by a goal from Tricia Mallory tied the match and sent it to overtime.
 
"We knew it'd be a tough game coming in, we didn't know it would quite be that kind of battle, but we knew it would be a tough one," said head coach George Van Linder.  "I'm just very proud of the girls fighting through that adversity to come back to win the game."
 
Saunders' goal was unassisted as she took it up the middle of the field and beat the Sam Houston goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton to the right side.  Hambelton had seven saves on the match.
 
"Nikki's been doing a great job in training the last week, and it was we've challenged her to take chances and take good shots," said Van Linder.  "It's great to see that finally pay off."
 
Sam Houston controlled the match during the second half and first overtime period with 17 shots to Northwestern State's one, but the Lady Demons regained control in the end finishing the match with six unanswered shots including the game winner on the free kick.
 
"We work on our free kicks all the time, and we've been frustrated because we felt like it should have paid off sooner," said Van Linder.  "Their goalkeeper was very strong and doing things that made it difficult to succeed. I was real happy with the girls for the pressure."
 
Ashlee Savona led the Lady Demons in shots with four in the match with two on-goal.  Brooke Eastburg followed with three and Saunders and Shelby Balmer each had two.
 
Jessica Danku played the entire match in the goal with eight saves. 
 
Northwestern State has an off-day on Sunday before returning home next week to host Abilene Christian at 7:30.  The match with ACU has been dubbed "Pink Out Day" in honor of breast cancer awareness month.