NATCHITOCHES -- Northwestern State and McNeese continued its streak of close games Friday as Cowgirls' forward Savannah LaRicci blasted an overtime goal from distance to top the Lady Demons, 2-1.
 
LaRicci found space in the middle of the field, striking a ball near the top of the net from about 25 yards.
 
The Sugar Land, Texas, senior scored two goals on the night to dig McNeese (6-2-1, 2-0 Southland Conference) out of an early 1-0 deficit.
 
"I think we were the best team in the first half because we were able to connect and combine passes," said NSU coach George Van Linder. "But credit McNeese in the second half -- we started playing more in the air and they are the taller team.
 
"We had a few moments in the second half where we were knocking it around, but we have to do a better job."
 
The Lady Demons (4-5, 0-2 Southland Conference) hope to end their opening home weekend in SLC play on a more positive note when they host Lamar (6-3-1, 1-1 SLC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Cardinals lost 4-1 to Central Arkansas.
 
Junior forward Brittany Caserma boosted NSU to a fast start when she scored from the middle of the penalty box on a pass from junior April Trowbridge.
 
Caserma nearly scored a second goal when she hit the post in the second half with the game tied 1-1.
 
"Caserma is tougher on herself than I'll ever be, and I know she's frustrated about missing that opportunity," Van Linder said of Caserma, who took four shots. "But she had a great goal on a great assist, and I loved the buildup to that goal.
 
"When you play a good team like McNeese, you have to put those chances away when you get them."
 
Caserma is now tied for the team lead with four goals (with Yeaya Gamboa), while Trowbridge's three assists ties her for the team best with Esdeina Gonzalez and Jayden Wheeler.
 
NSU goalkeeper Alex Latham made five saves in the loss with Payton Roney adding a team save that stopped a McNeese goal midway through the second half.
 
Winning keeper Emma Roccaforte made five saves in the win as McNeese held an 18-13 shot advantage.
 
NSU has lost two consecutive matches to McNeese, both in overtime, after the Cowgirls ousted the Lady Demons from the Southland Conference Tournament this past season.
 
Three of the last four meetings have ended in overtime with the Cowgirls winning all three dating back to 2015.