Box Score HAMMOND – A sloppy and rainy field turf didn't favor Northwestern State's passing style of play Sunday, but the Lady Demons scrapped to a 1-1 tie with Southeastern.
Sophomore forward Esdeina Gonzalez scored her team-high sixth goal of the season in the 43rd minute to give NSU a 1-0 halftime lead.
Gonzalez finished a pass from freshman midfielder Jasmine Juarez, her third assist this season to move into second place for the Lady Demons (5-9-4, 2-5-3 Southland Conference).
"The experienced players at this time of year usually carry a team, and we've appreciated our experienced players stepping up," said NSU soccer coach George Van Linder about a team whose freshmen scored 18 of the first 23 goals this season only to have the last nine goals scored by non-freshmen. "We value our younger players, but sometimes it takes a full year for them to grasp what these conference games are all about.
"But a freshman like Jasmine has evolved this season, and she's worked really hard to improve. This is the type of player we saw when we recruited her."
But Southeastern (10-4-3, 5-3-2 SLC), who entered the match in fourth place in the league, found the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Maggie Ramsey scored on a Maddie Allen assist, and the score stayed knotted through double overtime.
It's the fifth conference match and sixth match overall this season in which NSU scored the first goal but couldn't hold the lead through regulation. NSU is 1-3-2 in those matches with its lone win coming against Sam Houston State in double overtime.
"We've got to get better at protecting leads, but credit Southeastern and Nicholls (on Friday) for coming back," Van Linder said. "We're disappointed from that aspect, but I'm very proud of our players for fighting through the weather in what was a physical match, which isn't our strength.
"Our team had a really long meeting (Saturday), and they decided they were focused on fighting going forward. They definitely fought (Sunday), we just couldn't finish all of our chances."
Southeastern held the edge in total shots (18-11) but NSU placed more shots on goal (9-7).
The SLC league office is expected to release official conference tournament scenarios Monday, but Sunday's tie appears to eliminate NSU from the conference tournament picture.
The Lady Demons are in ninth place (nine points) with one match remaining, and NSU needs to jump eighth-place Central Arkansas (10 points) and seventh-place Nicholls (12 points) to reach the conference tournament for the first time since 2008.
NSU hosts Central Arkansas on Friday in the season finale, but an NSU win and a Nicholls loss would leave the teams tied with 12 points each. With Nicholls' overtime win Friday against NSU, the Colonels hold the tie-breaker.
Senior goalkeeper Brooke Bourbonais made her first start Sunday after missing the previous five matches with a concussion. Bourbonais led a shutout first half with three saves. Sophomore keeper Alex Latham played the second half and both overtimes with one goal allowed.
"Brooke did a great job," Van Linder said. "We were worried about having her come back because we didn't know if she was game-ready.
"But she looked very comfortable back there and proved she was ready."
NSU will honor seniors Bourbonais, Briscoe, midfielder Shelby Balmer, defender Natalie Pena and midfielder Joanna McFarling on Friday in the season finale against Central Arkansas.
