JACKSON, Miss. – Sophomore midfielder Jayden Wheeler had one assist in her first 23 career matches as a Northwestern State soccer player.
 
Wheeler exploded in her 24^th match, contributing a goal and two assists to lead the Lady Demons to a 4-0 win at Jackson State on Friday.
 
The Heath, Texas, native assisted on a Cache' Haley goal to start the scoring before contributing a goal and an assist on NSU's (3-3) two final tallies.
 
The goal was Wheeler's first in her college career, and the two assists were also a career high.
 
"Jayden was the trigger today that started the attack," said NSU coach George Van Linder. "She did a lot of great things to control the midfield.
 
"We are excited about the win, but we need to close out a few more of the scoring opportunities we created. The good news is we're getting more scoring opportunities."
 
Wheeler finished a ball in front of the net after a Haley cross bounced around the box. The Haley Wheeler connection was strong as Haley's three points just missed her career high set in 2016.
 
Wheeler said she was confident in NSU's second-half improvement this season, and the Lady Demons scored three of the four goals in the second half Friday.
 
"We knew we didn't come out as strong as we needed to in the first half, and (Van Linder) asked us where we were, so everybody took that a little personal," Wheeler said. "We had to set the tone early in the second half, and we all worked really well together.
 
"For me, having a game like this feels really good because everyone was so supportive. I was just feeding off what was happening."
 
Senior midfielder Payton Roney kicked off the second half fireworks with a goal in which she rebounded her own shot after Jackson State goalkeeper Rachyl Robles couldn't control the initial attempt.
 
Junior Jacqueline Manza finished the scoring when she scored a goal on assists from Wheeler and freshman Sara Asakskogen.
 
Manza, who battled injuries this past year as a sophomore, scored her first goal since her freshman season.
 
NSU senior goalkeeper Alex Latham and the Lady Demon defense posted its third shutout of the season.
 
Latham, who made five saves, eliminated a JSU breakaway when she dove at the feet of an attacker to stop the chance late in the second half.
 
The Lady Demons outshot JSU 30-7 and 21-5 in shots on goal.
 
The Lady Demons finish their Southwestern Athletic Conference road trip Sunday at Mississippi Valley State at 1 p.m.