THIBODAUX – Nicholls freshman Francesca Curteis scored her first career goal 21 seconds into overtime as the Colonels topped Northwestern State 2-1 on Friday.
Colonels star Spencer Valdespino and Erin Flores were credited with assists on the game-winning goal.
The loss dampens the Lady Demons' hopes of making the Southland Conference Tournament as NSU drops to 5-9-3 (2-5-2 SLC).
NSU entered the match in ninth place in the league and two points out of a tournament spot, but the Lady Demons will fall to at least 10th place after Nicholls (5-9-1, 3-6 SLC) recorded its third league win. Check back at nsudemons.com for updated information on the conference standings resulting from Friday night matches.
The Lady Demons have two more regular season matches – a Sunday date at Southeastern before finishing at home Oct. 30 against Central Arkansas.
NSU struck first when sophomore Esdeina Gonzalez slipped a shot under Nicholls goalkeeper Amanda Boylson just 57 seconds into the match. Senior Cassandra Briscoe recorded her team-high fifth assist on the goal, which ties Gonzalez for a team best with five goals this season.
But a defensive passing error set up Valdespino for the equalizing goal less than four minutes later. Valdespino ranks second in the Southland Conference with 11 goals.
Nicholls outshot NSU 12-7 and 6-4 in shots on goal, but the match remained scoreless until Curteis came through in overtime. The Lady Demons have been outshot only six times in 17 matches, and the seven shots were the lowest since attempting five against Texas A&M on Aug. 23.
The loss drops NSU to 1-3-3 in seven overtime matches this season.
NSU's loss in the series is the program's first-ever against Nicholls. NSU is 23-1-1 against the Colonels.
