NATCHITOCHES – Two Northwestern State seniors scored goals in an opening salvo, but the Lady Demons counted on a freshman to finish Sunday's 3-2, double-overtime win against Nicholls.
Kylee Dominy bent a free kick from the top of the box past Nicholls' goalkeeper Roosa Hurmerinta with 8:32 remaining as the Lady Demons rushed to Dominy in celebration. Senior Brittany Caserma drew the foul that set up Dominy's kick.
"As soon as Brittany got fouled, I said 'This is mine.' I felt it," said Dominy, who scored her third goal of the season. "I'm extremely comfortable at this point in the season after practicing this a lot.
"It means a lot to be able to score this goal for the seniors on Senior Day."
NSU (10-8, 4-6 SLC) appeared that it would coast to its third straight Southland Conference win after the Lady Demons scored two goals in the first three minutes.
While co-head coach Jess Jobe prefers to have not surrendered the lead, he said there are positive lessons to be learned in pulling out a tough win.
"That's a lot of pressure on a freshman in that moment, but I'm really pleased with senior April Trowbridge's leadership in that moment … because she knew Kylee had a particular set of strengths and it was set up better for Kylee," Jobe said. "Kylee hit that ball sweetly and executed.
"It was maybe a little more tense than we wanted after putting ourselves in good position early. We needed three points today, and we grinded it out with our season still very much alive. Today was an important game because we learned a lot about college soccer. It doesn't matter who you are playing, you have to complete a full game."
The win doesn't officially clinch a postseason spot for NSU, but the Lady Demons are in a tie with Stephen F. Austin for seventh place with eight teams going to the tournament.
Seniors April Ficarrotta and Brittany Caserma supplied the early offensive surge as each scored goals in the first three minutes.
Sophomore Brittany Cecil assisted both goals, her first points of the season, Ficarrotta scored from close range in front of the goal and Caserma booted in a shot from the flank.
"We can never do things the easy way, but it feels amazing," said Ficarrotta, who scored the first goal in two of the last three games. "We struggled earlier this year in the first five minutes, so it was good that we could go out there and set the tone right away, even though we had to finish it in overtime.
"I wanted to be sad because it's my last home game, but I just can't be because it's great to get this win for all these girls. I knew Kylee had that shot because I've seen her do it so many times in practice. I was ready to storm the field."
Caserma and Ficarrotta scored their seventh and third goals this season, respectively.
Nicholls slowed NSU's momentum into halftime but became the aggressor for much of the second half, scoring two goals to tie the game.
Blaire Laiche and Francesca Curteis scored goals in the 60th and 68th minutes both on counterattacks in which a loose ball found its way to the Colonels.
But redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Bomben and the NSU defense limited Nicholls to eight shots, none in overtime. Bomben made four saves in the win.
NSU honored its six seniors following their final home game. Trowbridge, Caserma and Ficarrotta joined Ysmina Smith, Olivia Marazzo and Jaqueline Manza to lead NSU to 10 wins for the second time in three seasons.
The last time NSU crossed the 10-win barrier was in 2009 when the Lady Demons posted an 11-9 record.
The Lady Demons can tie that mark Friday in a regular-season finale at Central Arkansas.