BEAUMONT, Texas—Libe Banuelos's career-high 14 saves were not enough, as the Northwestern State soccer team dropped a 1-0 Southland Conference match at Lamar on Friday evening at the LU Soccer Complex.

Her 14 saves are tied for the fifth-most in program history and the most by an NSU goalkeeper since Alex Latham also stopped 14 at Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 15, 2017.

A first half goal from Rafiatu Alhassan proved to be the difference on a windy evening, as LU took advantage of its wind advantage in the first half to score the lone goal.

It is the third consecutive loss for NSU (4-8-0 overall, 2-3 SLC), with two being by a single goal, while LU (10-2-1, 5-0) earned its ninth straight victory.

Alhassan found the back of the net for the only goal in the 30^th minute. She scored from the top right of the box, sailing the ball into the top left corner of the goal, barely over the outstretched arms of Banuelos.

The goal was her first of the season and was assisted by Trinity Clark for her first point of the season.

Lamar controlled possession much of the first half with the wind at its back, out-shooting NSU 12-3 in the opening 45 minutes, which led to LU's goal.

Play evened out in the second half, but the Cardinals posted a 20-8 advantage in shot attempts.

Spitzer began the game for NSU with a shot on goal in the 13^th minute, which was saved by Nicole Panis for one of her three saves in the game, all of which came in the first half.

Banuelos made seven of her 13 saves in the first half to keep the game within reach. Her 57 saves on the season are the most in the conference and her 24 stops in league play is also tops in the SLC.

NSU tried a late push in the second half with shot attempts from Taylor Spitzer and Emily Mougia in the final three minutes, but both just missed the net and the Lady Demons were held off the scoreboard.

In the 87^th minute, Spitzer received a bouncing ball in the box and she attempted a shot from in the box, but it sailed high. Spitzer had four of the eight shot attempts by NSU in the game, with two of her shots being on frame.

Less than a minute later, Mougia found a crease and attempted a shot at the top of the box that rolled just wide left.

The Lamar defense held NSU without a shot for the final 2:41 to seal the victory for Panis' eighth solo shutout. She also has a combined shutout.

Other than Spitzer's four shot attempts and Mougia's attempt, Caitlin Le Roux, Emme' Fernandez and Alina Graf had the other three shot attempts.

Cariel Ellis, the fourth-leading scorer in the conference, paced LU with four shot attempts. Alhassan, Kauany Sousa and Hollie Massey all had three shot attempts each for the Cardinals.

NSU is back on the road Sunday afternoon as it plays Houston Christian in the second of three consecutive matches away from Natchitoches. The Lady Demons next home game is Oct. 15 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.