ITTA BENA, Miss. – For the second time in as many years, Northwestern State needed a strong second half to pull away from a scrappy Mississippi Valley State squad.

The Lady Demons scored the final two goals in a 4-2 win Sunday against the Delta Devilettes. In 2017, NSU (2-2) broke a second-half deadlock by pouring in four goals in the final period.

"It's a tough environment to play, and (MVSU) is an emotional and physical team that made it difficult on us," said first-year co-head coach Jess Jobe. "It's not a flattering win, but ultimately we figured out what we needed to do to make it work.

"We made some tactical adjustments at halftime and figured out how to cause more problems and get more control."

After MVSU tied the score 2-2 in the 68^th minute, freshman Jalen Donaldson netted the game winner as she rebounded an April Trowbridge shot in the 69^th minute for a 3-2 edge. Trowbridge contributed her first assist of the season after leading the team with five assists in 2017.

Fellow freshman Hallie McCarroll scored 10 minutes later when she converted a penalty kick after fighting to get into the box, where she was fouled.

Both Donaldson and McCarroll scored their first collegiate goals, increasing goals scored by newcomers to three of NSU's seven this season.

"Jalen came in and added some energy after we weren't happy with our first half," Jobe said. "She provided new movement, and she was active in looking for openings.

"We've got no problem at all scoring scrappy goals. Hallie came in and did some good things on the left flank, and she was able to beat her defender and get the ball in the box to set up her penalty kick."

NSU scored two penalty kicks Sunday, the first coming from senior April Trowbridge in the 37^th minute for a 2-1 edge. Trowbridge scored her third goal of the season, which matches her 2017 total.
Trowbridge was fouled in the box after senior April Ficarrotta sent in a long ball.

Junior Jayden Wheeler started the scoring by booting in a free kick from the top of the 18-yard box in the 10^th minute. Senior Brittany Caserma created the set piece when she was fouled near the box.

Mississippi Valley State tied the score on a penalty kick by Laadi Issaka near the 30^th minute.

After Trowbridges' penalty kick, Issaka provided MVSU's second equalizer Sunday when she scored on a breakway.

But that's the only goal freshman keeper Sydney Normand allowed from the field of play, earning her first career win in her first collegiate action.

Normand made four saves in her first start, including another one-vs.-one situation with Issaka later in the contest.

"Sydney did well, and she stepped right into that role with a commanding presence back there," Jobe said. "We've had some great performances from (Kayla Bomben), and we felt like this was a good game to get meaningful minutes for (Normand).

"We started slow defensively in the back line, and (MVSU) had some pretty special players, including (Issaka). Sydney came up with a crucial save (on Issaka) in a 1v1 situation and continued to fight hard. We didn't allow (MVSU) as much time and space in the second half. We got the result we needed on the road, and we're happy about that."

The Lady Demons picked up its second road win of the season and will attempt to gain its first victory in the Lady Demon Soccer Complex on Sept. 2 against ULM.