NATCHITOCHES—Another game, another hero for the Northwestern State soccer team.

This time, is it was sophomore Norma Trejo heading in a goal two minutes into the second half, scoring on a header from close range to give the Lady Demons a 1-0 victory against Sam Houston State Friday night at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.

It was the first goal of the season for the sophomore from Baytown, Texas. Freshman Samantha Hanking, who was the hero at Stephen F. Austin, was credited with the assist.

"I knew the goalkeeper was out," Trejo said. "I just decided to get my head on it and it went in."

This is only the fourth time in school history the Lady Demons have had a record this good after six conference matches.

SHSU (4-7-1, 2-2-1) has dropped two in a row after starting conference play 2-0-1, not scoring in either loss.

"I am pleased with our adjustments in the second half," co-head coach Jess Jobe said. "Sam Houston really controlled possession in the first half, but in the second half we were able to get control of the game.

We talked about areas we needed to be sharper in and the girls responded really well and we were really happy about the turnaround in the second half, getting that early goal and going from there."

The first half of the opening 45 minutes were controlled by the Lady Demons, and they had three opportunities to put one in, but three shots by Jalen Donaldson were saved by Bearkats goalkeeper Tatum Krueger.

The best chance was Donaldson's third opportunity, as she took the ball in, weaving through traffic, and had a clean look from the left side of the box, but Krueger dove to her left to make a terrific save to keep it tied.

In the final 23 minutes of the opening half, Sam Houston State dominated possession. In that time, the Lady Demons were held shotless, while the Bearkats had a few chances of their own. Sam Houston had shot attempts by Lexi Primacio and Grace Stine, with the latter being on goal, but senior goalkeeper Kayla Bomben made the save.

Coming out of the second, the Lady Demons put on the heat. They dominated possession, and Trejo finally put one home to put NSU in front. On the goal, senior Jayden Wheeler had a clean shot at the net from near the top of the box that hit the crossbar and bounced out.

After the shot, Hanking gained possession of the ball and passed it to Trejo, who headed the ball into the net for the goal.

Even after the goal, the Lady Demons kept applying the pressure. Hanking and Olivia Draguicevich each had shots, but one was saved and the one went just wide. Late in the match, Jayme Haynes had a chance to make it 2-0, but the ball tipped off her foot and ricocheted to the goalkeeper for the save.

Sam Houston State had a golden chance late, but a cross was sent in and it made it past Bomben across the box, before being booted out of danger by the Lady Demons.

In the 85^th minute, Sam Houston tried to center the ball, and went in on Bomben, who won a race to the ball to deny the Bearkats another chance.

NSU outshot SHSU 10-4, and 6-2 in shots on goal. Donaldson had three to lead the Lady Demons. Hanking was the only other player on either team with more than one shot, as she had two.

Bomben stopped two shots for her second shutout of the season and fourth in her career. That ties her with Brooke Bourbonais (2012-15) and Johnna Klohoker (2004-07) for eighth in school history in career shutouts.

NSU is back in action next Friday, as it takes on red-hot Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex, before rounding out the home weekend against Houston Baptist.