CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Northwestern State soccer team earned a 0-0 draw with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday night, and in the process set a new school record. NSU held the Islanders scoreless for 110 minutes, its sixth straight shutout, which is something that's never been accomplished before in school history.  

"It's the effort of our entire team competing to the way we want to defend, and the way we want to play," said co-head coach Jess Jobe. "That was a tough team Corpus team. Credit to Corpus, making some things really difficult for us. It was a great performance from everybody working really, really hard in a game that was stretched."

The shutout is made more impressive for the fact that NSU was without junior Natalee Henry. She missed the game Friday because she received two yellow cards in match against Southeastern Louisiana last weekend.

That put more responsibility on senior Alexis Weaver to slide back and numerous other players to fill the sizable shoes left behind by Henry. 

"We continue to be difficult to score on, even when we're missing someone that means as much as Natalee Henry," Jobe said. "It's a really great effort. And it's a great thing to have moving forward, knowing we've got players who're going to step up. We have a deep team this year that's well poised to handle any challenge that's thrown at them."

The tie moved Northwestern State to 6-0-1 on the season and 4-0-1 in Southland Conference play. The Islanders hold a 2-3-2 overall record and a 1-1-1 mark in league play. 

That new program high mark for shutouts is due in large part to junior goaltender Acelya Aydogmus. And unlike in past games, she was challenged quite a few times Friday. 

Aydogmus faced eight shots from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Five of those shots needed her assistance, as she has gone the last 629 minutes without allowing a score. 

The Lady Demons registered 11 shots on the night, two of which were on frame. The majority of those, seven, occurred in the first 45 minutes, as they got after the Islanders.

Sophomore Samantha Hanking was particularly active on the nearside wing, sending multiple crosses into scoring position for NSU. Freshman Delaney Wells was the first to fire a shot on the night, as her attempt from the front of the box sailed just high. 

"Sam did a great job taking on that challenge, and taking some instruction and finding some opportunities to create and be dangerous," Jobe said. "To Sam's credit, she stuck to the game plan and kept driving and kept going at it. She really did a nice job." 

For the game, sophomore forward Olivia Draguicevich led the way with three shots. Wells added one more to match Hanking's pair, while Weaver, junior Kalee Williams, sophomore Rachel Brandt and freshman Kyle Nolen all logged one shot apiece. 

The Islanders edged Northwestern State 6-4 in shots during the final 65 minutes. But NSU's shorthanded backline was up to the challenge. 

And another challenge is coming. Northwestern State returns home for a impactful game against Stephen F. Austin on Friday at 7 p.m.