Box Score JACKSON, Mississippi—It was just a matter of time before the Northwestern State offense had a bit of a breakout performance.

Two goals, one each from Sabrina Lopez and Emme' Fernandez, in the span of two minutes in the second half pushed Northwestern State to a 2-0 road victory over Jackson State on Friday evening at the JSU Soccer Field.

"I thought we played well," first-year head coach Ian Brophy said. "We kept possession well and controlled the ball, which is what we were able to do. I was really happy to see that and happy to see us create more scoring chances, as well as putting more on frame, which is really important."

Following a scoreless first half, one in which NSU controlled much of, the Lady Demons continued to apply pressure and ultimately, the dam burst, which was a long-time coming for NSU.

In the 64^th minute, Lopez tallied the first goal of her NSU career to give the Lady Demons a lead they would not relinquish.

Lopez, a junior transfer from Lamar, scored off a free kick in which Emme' Fernandez's shot hit the crossbar and bounced down to a group of players. Lopez secured the ball and sent it past JSU goalkeeper Jordan Hamilton in the lower left of the goal.

"On the goal, there were a bunch of players around and I saw the ball was coming toward me because coached told me to peel off," Lopez said. "I knew I had to get that ball and luckily, I did. Even with all the players around me, I was able to get the shot in and give us momentum."

Just two minutes later, Fernandez found the back of the net herself, once again following a free kick. Just outside the top left of the box, her free kick found a hole in the defense and bounced past Hamilton lower right of the goal to double the lead.

"That goal is what we work on during practice," Fernandez said. "We work on taking care of set pieces. Those are big opportunities for us, especially in a game like this when we are playing a really competitive, physical team. When we get those opportunities, we just have to put them away."

It is the first goal for Fernandez since last year at Texas A&M-Commerce.

All four of NSU's goals this year have been scored in the second half.

NSU put pressure on the JSU defense all game and even after the two goals.

Earning another start, Emily Gundin created opportunities again. She had a shot in the seventh minute from inside the box, but her left-footed attempt was stopped by Hamilton.

She and Emily Mougia also each had shots blocked moments later.

Madison Murphy and Taylor Spitzer each had shots from at or near the top of the box but were both saved. NSU had seven shots in the first half, including six on goal.

The second half started much like the first, with NSU being the aggressor. Jessica Spitzer attempted a shot less than three minutes in that was saved.

In the 55^th minute, Bella Ruggiano had a chance following a scramble for the ball, but Hamilton stopped her as well.

But Hamilton could not stop shots from Lopez and Fernandez to put NSU in front for good and gave the Lady Demons a bit of breathing room.

"With a one-goal lead, we're still on the edge a bit," Brophy said., "But as soon as we scored our second goal, I think the game got a little bit easier for us. More chances started to open up for us when they started to push more and more and we became more dangerous."

Playing against her former school, goalkeeper Kora Fry came in late to seal a combined shutout for the Lady Demons, making a pair of saves.

NSU finishes the non-conference slate Sunday at LSU before the Lady Demons begin conference play with a home game against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 17.