NATCHITOCHES – Both Camila Ardila and Caché Haley hit the back of the net on Friday afternoon and led the Northwestern State soccer team to a 2-1 win over Nicholls to remain in contention for the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
Northwestern State improved to 4-11-1 overall and 1-6-1 in league play while Nicholls fell to 7-6, 3-3 in league play.  The match wrapped up a five-game road swing for the Lady Demons, and was the final contest away from the Lady Demon Soccer Complex for the regular season.
 
Ardila hit first in the 21^st minute when she took a long pass from Peyton Rector and scored it from the bottom right.  It was Ardila's second goal of the year and Rector's second assist. 
 
Twenty minutes later, Haley took a pass from Cassandra Briscoe for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and also scored from the bottom right side.  It was goal number three for Haley and assist number two for Briscoe this season.
 
"The team fought and worked hard tonight, and I am so proud of the 90 minutes of team effort everyone gave," said head coach George Van Linder.  "We realize it was just a small step, but this season has been so difficult for us with the injuries and heartbreak.  Today we we'll enjoy the win and tomorrow we'll get right to the next game."
 
Nicholls chipped in a goal just before halftime when Kristy Tatom put one in with a shot from the left side on an assist from Sarah Tani. Neither team pushed in a goal after halftime.
 
Alex Latham grabbed 10 saves, which tied her season high, on 17 shots faced in 90 minutes played. She took the win and improved to 4-9-1 on the year.   Nicholls goalkeeper Haley Golden had eight saves in the match.
 
Both teams finished with 17 shots in the game, and Nicholls had an 11-10 shot on-goal advantage.  Northwestern State finished with six corner kicks and five offside calls.
 
Ardila tied the Colonels' Spencer Valdespino with four shots and led all players.  Cassandra Briscoe finished with two shots, and Sage Leffew, Rector, Julia Ranalli, Esdeina Gonzalez and Shelby Drope all added on shot.
 
NSU returns to the Demon Soccer Complex for the first time since Sept. 26 when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday at 1 o'clock.  Sunday's match has been themed as the "Kick Pink" game as a part of the #ForkCancer Week for breast cancer awareness. 
 
Representatives from the Susan G. Komen Foundation will be available at the match, and NSU will be raffling off a team-autographed ball along with a silent action.