CONWAY, Ark.—In the words of the Foo Fighters, "Done. Done. Onto the next one."

A first half barrage led the Northwestern State soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament with a 3-0 victory over No. 7 Sam Houston State Wednesday at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.

"The pressure is on, as the No. 2 seed, so I was very pleased to score early," co-head coach Jess Jobe said. "I was also pleased on scoring three different goals. There was an emphasis on putting up shots, and we were fortunate three went in."

NSU (12-7-1) scored three goals from three different players in the first 23 minutes. It is the first time the Lady Demons have won a conference tournament game since 2005.

That year, NSU won the tournament title. The victory Wednesday ended a five-match NSU losing streak in conference tournament play.

Jayden Wheeler began the scoring in the first minute, and NSU continued to pour it on from there. The Lady Demons also netted goals from Karleigh Acosta and Kalee Williams.

In the first minute, Wheeler chipped it over the goalkeeper from about 10 yards outside the box. It went in the top right corner, and NSU had its earliest goal of the season.

"Honestly, I couldn't believe it," Wheeler said. "If you watch the video, I am sure you can see how far my jaw was open. I was in awe because it was so quick.

Jess said it last game that we had a great start, and he wanted us to carry that over to the tournament. To be able to get the momentum early was awesome."

It is the third goal in the last four games for the senior, and it is a new career-high for goals in a season.

Acosta picked a great time for her first career goal, as she scored off a rebound to give NSU a 2-0 advantage. The sophomore scored on a rebound after a header by Olivia Mattsson was saved by SHSU goalkeeper Tatum Krueger.

"At first, I thought it was going in and I was really happy for Olivia," Acosta said. "But then I saw the girl on the post ended up hitting it right to my feet, so I just hit it in."
Mattsson's assist was her team-high fourth assist of the season.

Kalee Williams joined the scoring party with a goal in the 23^rd minute to put NSU in front 3-0. She won a battle with Krueger in the box and separated from the SHSU goalkeeper and fired it into the open net for the final goal of the half.

It was her third goal of the season.

After a blistering start, it calmed down from there. NSU had five shots in the first half, scoring three times. One of the shots that did not go in was Mattsson's shot that was stopped and set up the rebound goal by Acosta.

The goalkeepers stood strong in the second half, and the game ended 3-0. Both teams had a few chances, but could not get it past the goalkeepers. Sophomore Jalen Donaldson had a chance in the 68^th minute, but the ball went just wide right.

In the 88^th minute, Hannah Dupin attempted a shot that was saved by Aydogmus to preserve the shutout.

Aydogmus made a pair of saves in her fifth shutout of the season. That ties her with NSU goalkeeper legends Tiffany Swingler and Nellie Latiolais for the fifth most shutouts in a season in school history. It also ties her with Wendy Woodham for the seventh most shutouts in a career.

NSU won the shot battle 11-7, including 6-2 in shots on goal.

Wheeler and freshmen Olivia Draguicevich and Kaitlyn Poirrier led the team with two shots. Both of Wheeler's attempts were on goal.

NSU will take on the winner of No. 3 Abilene Christian and No. 6 McNeese Friday at 4 p.m.