BEAUMONT, Texas—With its backs against the wall and the regular season conference championship slipping away, the Northwestern State women's soccer team came up with its best performance of the year, shutting out previously undefeated Lamar 2-0 on Friday evening in a Southland Conference contest at the Lamar Soccer Complex.

After being held without a goal through her first 11 games, Gracie Armstrong scored twice in the first 46 minutes and the defense shut down the Lamar offense to preserve the win.

NSU (6-3-3 overall, 3-2-2 SLC) kept pace in the conference standings and moved within two points of second place Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

"It was a complete team effort tonight," NSU soccer coach Stuart Gore said. "Our bench was loud and very supportive. It was fantastic to see Gracie get off the mark. It was great work from Emily and Emme' to get Gracie the ball to slot the ball in the corner.

"We came out flying straight from the kickoff with Nicole and Emme' combining. Then Emily heads it back across the six and Gracie was there to tap it in."

In a defensive first half, Armstrong finally broke the ice with her first goal of the season in the 34^th minute on an assist from Emme' Fernandez. After registering 11 in her Colorado State career, Armstrong put one in the back of the net after being so close to goals in previous games.

She became the 11^th different player on the team to score a goal this season.

Armstrong didn't take long into the second half to double the lead, scoring a goal just 17 seconds into the second half on an assist from Emily Mougia. The defense made sure it would not need the extra cushion.

The assist was Mougia's first career point, while Armstrong's seven shots tied a season high.

In addition to the Lady Demons handing Lamar (9-1-1, 6-1) its first loss of the season, it was the first time all season a team had scored multiple goals on the stellar Cardinals defense. Up until Friday evening, LU had surrendered just three goals all season long.

NSU had LU on its heels all contest long, controlling action throughout. The game started out slow for the offenses, as the Cardinals recorded the only shot attempt in the game's first 19 minutes. But then Armstrong took over, attempting four of NSU's six shots in the final 26 minutes of the half, including the goal.

Armstrong scored her second goal of the contest right in front of the net off the assist from Mougia, which set the tone for the second half. The goal was the first of 10 shot attempts in the second half for NSU, as the team dominated the shot battle, attempting 16 to LU's four.

LU's goalkeeper Nicole Panis did all she could, recording six saves in the game, but couldn't slow down Armstrong. NSU's goalkeeper Chloe DeShazer stopped one shot late in the game, securing her fourth shutout of the season and third in conference play.

Jalen Donaldson attempted three shots for NSU, which was second to Armstrong in shots by NSU.

NSU rounds out the weekend with a visit from Nicholls in the first of two consecutive home games, aiming to win its second consecutive contest.