Box Score CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas --  The Northwestern State women's soccer team scored two goals in the first half and one in the second to defeat Texas A&M- Corpus Christi 3-0, but the Lady Demons were eliminated from the Southland Conference Tournament due to Nicholls and Central Arkansas wins. 
 
NSU (7-11-1, 5-6-1 Southland Conference) needed a win over TAMUCC (2-16-0, 1-11-0 SLC) and a loss from either Nicholls or Central Arkansas.  Nicholls downed Sam Houston 3-2 and UCA defeated McNeese State 1-0. 
 
Despite not making it to the tournament, the five league wins the Lady Demons earned in 2013 was the most since the 2005 season when NSU had six.
 
"We are crushed that we didn't make the tournament," said head coach George Van Linder. "Although we had our chances, it is a painful lesson at the moment, but it will create a lasting impact for the future.
 
"This year's seniors did play a big role in us being able to have the most conference wins in a long, long time," he said.  "Although this group has shown massive improvement, falling this short is incredibly painful."
 
Alex Rios scored the first goal of the game in the third minute on an assist from Taylor Mulnix.  It was Rios' only shot on the day.
 
Brooke Eastburg scored the second goal in the 19th minute with an assist by Nikki Saunders.  Eastburg finished second in shots (two) behind Cassandra Briscoe and Ashlee Savona who each had three.
 
"In pregame it was very quiet and I felt like the team was focused," said Van Linder.  "We talked about coming out hard and the early goal confirmed it. So we had some good chances and that was the difference."
 
Briscoe had the final goal in the 73rd minute.  She was assisted by Alexandria Jackson on a shot from the inside 18 to the high left corner.
 
Jessica Danku finished her career with a career-high 121 saves in a season.  She played the entire match between the pipes and she accounted for her third shutout on the year.
 
Brooke Erdmann had led the match with five shots and two on-goal.  She was followed by Yvette Franco who had four shots.
 
NSU outshot the Islanders 14-13 and had a 8-5 shot on-goal advantage.