LAKE CHARLES – The Northwestern State soccer made a bit of history Sunday with the aim of reversing its recent history of missed Southland Conference Tournaments.
With a 2-1 win at McNeese on Sunday, the Lady Demons won consecutive conference road games for the first time since 2006 (beat Central Arkansas and McNeese). NSU started the weekend with a 1-0 win at Lamar.
"We wanted to do great things this year, and if you're going to do that, you've got to break some records and streaks," said NSU coach George Van Linder. "These were two tough, tough battles, and we hope this continues to build confidence for us. I'm so proud of them."
Unlike Friday's win at Lamar, NSU (5-5, 2-1 SLC) provided an early offensive onslaught, scoring its two goals in the first 20 minutes.
Sophomore forward April Trowbridge scored her fifth goal this season when she snapped a rebound into the lower left-hand corner in the 10th minute. Freshman forward Jayden Wheeler supplied the initial shot in the second start of her career.
Senior Patry Carrion provided NSU's second goal in the 18th minute when she rocketed a free kick into the top left-hand corner of the net from near the top of the box.
"I saw the (McNeese) wall was on the right side, and I saw a little space to the left of the goal keeper," said Carrion, who scored her first goal as a Lady Demon in her second season. "I felt that it had to be right at a specific spot, and that's where the shot was.
"I was really excited I got that goal."
McNeese responded with a 23rd minute goal from Sara Ortiz, who connected on a cross from Savannah LaRicci.
After NSU outshot McNeese 8-3 in the first half, the Cowgirls took 10 second-half shots to NSU's two, taking a 13-10 shots edge.
Junior goalkeeper Alex Latham made six saves in the win, including deflecting a well-struck free kick above the bar as time expired.
"Since we started playing three in the back, we've been able to drop together and doing a good job staying together," Carrion said. "We've backed each other up every time someone misses.
"We see the ball better now, and it's making our work easier."
Trowbridge entered Sunday's games one goal behind the SLC leaders, and her goal tied her with those leaders.
"We've been working on that pattern of play trying to get some early offense," Van Linder said. "Trowbridge has made an instant impact, and we've been working with Patry on her free kicks for a month now.
"We talked in the hotel parking lot today about Patry getting an opportunity like this."
NSU returns to conference action when it hosts Abilene Christian on Friday and Incarnate Word on Sunday.
