NATCHITOCHES—There's just something about the Northwestern State soccer team and second halves.

For the second time in three games, Sabrina Lopez played the role of hero for NSU (3-5 overall, 1-0 Southland Conference), scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 victory against Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday evening at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex to open up SLC play.

Lopez, a junior from Katy, Texas, scored going top left on a shot from a difficult angle in the 52^nd minute, outside the top right of the box, beating a leaping Olivia Griffin.

"I was looking for the shot there," Lopez said. "I saw that I was open and saw there really weren't any defenders around me, so I was like 'why not?' Luckily, I did."

The tally is Lopez's second on the season, also doing so to start the scoring at Jackson State on Sept. 7 in a 2-0 victory.

All six goals scored by the Lady Demons have come in the second half and they have won every game in which they have been tied at the half.

"I am really happy to start conference play on a high note with a win," first-year head coach Ian Brophy said. "I am really happy with how we executed and our play overall, which is what led to the goal and the win. It was great to defend home turf, so to get the win was exciting."

Lopez's goal helped stem the tide, as SLU (2-6, 0-1) had come out in the second half playing aggressive, including attempting a shot from Rylee Franklin, which was saved.

The save was one of three from conference saves leader Libe Banuelos, who posted her third save in four contests. Banuelos and Griffin were the top two in the league in saves entering the game and combined for four.

"The defense has been working super hard," defender Caroline Hilliard said. "We switched to a three-back recently and I think that has been working. We work really well together. There is a lot of communication and everybody knows their job and we make sure we shut down anything that comes our way."

NSU kept the pressure on following the goal, as Emily Mougia nearly headed one into the back of the net to double the lead, but the attempt sailed wide right.

SLU's last chance came off a free kick off the foot of Hannah McCord, but Banuelos was there for the save to seal the victory, NSU's fifth consecutive conference-opening win, all of which have finished with an identical 1-0 score.

Brophy wanted a fast start, and while NSU didn't dent the scoreboard, the Lady Demons attempted four shots in the first 27 minutes, and five total in the first half.

"While we didn't get a goal in the first half, I was happy with the way we started," Brophy said. "Even though we didn't get a goal to show for our hard work, we knew we just had to stay patient and keep plugging away.

"I thought the subs did a really good job in steadying the game. When we got to halftime, we knew in the second half we could start putting on the pressure."

While NSU controlled play in the first half of the opening 45 minutes, SLU controlled much of the final 20 minutes of the opening half. All six shots the Lions attempted in the first half came during that time, including four in a four-minute span that nearly gave the visitors the lead.

SLU attempted back-to-back shots from Nicole O'Neill and Kelsey Fuller, which came up empty, including Fuller's header into an open net off a perfect crossing pass. That was followed by a Sara Bancevic shot that hit the crossbar.

The Lions controlling of possession continued into the second half but was halted by Lopez's goal.

SLU won the shot battle 10-9 with both having three on frame.

The game marks the first time this season the Lady Demons have won the game when allowing more shot attempts than they take.

Taylor Spitzer attempted the most shots for NSU with three, including one on goal. O'Neill attempted three as well to lead SLU.

Mya Guillory, who entered the game leading the Lions in shots and shots on goal on the season by a wide margin, was held to just one shot attempt, but it was not on goal, in 76 minutes.

NSU has a second consecutive home game to begin league play when it hosts UIW on Friday before starting the road portion of the conference schedule at Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 24.