NATCHITOCHES -- Northwestern State needed points in its opening weekend of Southland Conference play at home, but results slipped through the Lady Demons' hands Sunday.
 

Northwestern State fell to McNeese State 2-1 in double overtime despite holding a shot and possession advantage throughout the match.
 

McNeese's Sara Ortiz scored her third goal of the season with 4:58 remaining in the second overtime to give the Cowgirls (4-5, 1-2 SLC) their first league win. Bettina Brulhart flicked a pass into the box for Ortiz, who rocketed a shot off an NSU defender and into the right side of the goal.
 

NSU (3-6-2, 0-2-1 SLC), which features 24 underclassmen on its roster, has yet to win an overtime match in four tries this season. NSU is 0-2-2 in overtime matches.
 

"It was tough. We played well enough to win both games this weekend," said NSU coach George Van Linder, whose team lost to Lamar 3-1 on Friday despite having a 29-11 shot advantage. "I think both opponents and the fans can see that, but at the same time, we have to get results.
 

"We knew it was going to be a battle with McNeese, and today was no exception. We were probably a little fatigued in the midfield ... and I think I needed to use our depth a little more today."

NSU outshot McNeese 17-12 in the match, including an 8-3 tally in the first half. McNeese did hold a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.
 

Brulhart opened the contest with a counter-attack goal in the ninth minute. Kayla Goedicke attacked from the flank, crossing a ball to Brulhart, who finished in front of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
 

NSU freshman Brittany Caserma provided the equalizer 10 minutes later when she deflected the ball into the goal on a collision with McNeese keeper Lauren Sestak. Both players left the game, and Sestak didn't return. 
 

Caserma is now tied for the team lead with four goals after finishing that play on a long ball from sophomore Amy Renteria, her first assist of her career.
 

But backup goalkeeper Maggie Marks denied NSU any more goals in her 88 minutes of play, making three saves.
 

NSU sophomore keeper Alex Latham (0-3-1) took the loss despite making five saves in her 61 minutes of action. Latham played her customary role of playing the second half and the overtimes after senior Brooke Bourbonais played the first half.
 

The Lady Demons hit the road next weekend to face Abilene Christian (2-7-2, 1-1 SLC) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Incarnate Word (3-8, 1-2) on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 

"It will be a challenge to bounce back with a younger team, but overall, they know it's a learning process," Van Linder said.  "We've got to move on and put this one behind us. 

"We've got to learn from this one the best we can, but we've got to move forward."