By: Jason Pugh, Assistant Sports Information Director
Box Score THIBODAUX – Nicholls' Kirstie Champagne put home a rebound off a penalty kick in the 95th minute, handing the Northwestern State soccer team a 1-0 overtime Southland Conference loss Sunday afternoon at the Nicholls Soccer Complex.
Champagne's marker broke the scoreless tie seconds after Northwestern State's Esdeina Gonzalez was handed a red card.
Northwestern State goalkeeper Kayla Bomben, making her first career start, stopped Champagne's initial penalty kick attempt before the Colonels forward slipped in the rebound.
"What a horrible way to end a game," said NSU coach George Van Linder. "I feel bad for (Bomben) because she had a great game, and I feel terrible for Ezzy because she's had a great career at NSU.
"This was heartbreaking because the entire team played their hearts out. The frustration of this game won't go away any time soon, but we're Demons, and we'll refocus and be ready for Friday's home game against Central Arkansas."
Northwestern State (5-12, 1-9) dropped its sixth straight match despite producing its third-highest shot total in a conference match this season. The Lady Demons peppered the Colonels (6-10-1, 3-6-1) with 18 shots and put 10 shots on goal against Nicholls goalkeeper Roosa Hurmerinta.
The 18 shots stand behind the 24 against Sam Houston State (Oct. 6) and 19 against Houston Baptist (Oct. 13) while the 10 shots on goal are Northwestern State's most in a conference match this season and fourth-most in all matches this season.
Hurmerinta stopped all 10 shots to post her third shutout of the season.
Bomben matched her counterpart throughout regulation, making four saves in regulation before stopping Champagne's initial overtime try.
After a scoreless first half, both teams produced more chances in the second half.
Northwestern State pressured Hurmerinta on several occasions in the final 45 minutes of regulation, led by a pair of Cache Haley shots in the 82nd minute.
Haley, a senior forward, took two shots in the span of 17 seconds but was unable to solve Hurmerinta. Earlier in the half, April Trowbridge and Payton Roney put shots on goal within five seconds of each other only to see Hurmerinta turn them away.
Bomben and the Northwestern State defense held strong in the second half as Nicholls opened with a flurry of shots. After facing just one shot on goal in the first half, Bomben made three saves in the first 10:27 of the second half.
The Lady Demons controlled much of the first half, outshooting the Colonels, 8-6, putting three of them on net.
However, Hurmerinta was up to the challenge, stopping all three shots. Bomben faced one first-half shot, making a save on a Halee Atwell shot in the 13th minute.
Trowbridge provided much of Northwestern State's early pressure against Hurmerinta, firing off three first-half shots, including two in the first seven minutes of action.
Northwestern State returns home to conclude the regular season Friday when it hosts Central Arkansas at 7 p.m.
