NATCHITOCHES—The Northwestern State soccer team posted its best showing of the season but could not break through in a scoreless tie against Abilene Christian on Sunday afternoon at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.

Northwestern (0-4-1) earned its first shutout of the season after allowing just one girl in the previous game at UL Lafayette.

"There were some real positives in this one," head coach Ian Brophy said. "I thought we played really well. The way were able to keep possession and create some really good scoring chances. I was pleased with all of it.

"Sometimes, you need a little bit of luck to get the ball in the net and we didn't have that today, but I am very pleased with the performance."

Scoreless ties are nothing new to ACU (1-0-3), as three of its first four contests of the season ended that way, also doing so against UTEP and Lamar.

It is the first scoreless tie for NSU since against in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana in 2022.

While the Lady Demons could not break through, they were not without chances.

They did not waste time in recording the game's first scoring chance. Isabella Ruggiano, one of the seniors playing her final home opener, recorded the opening shot of the contest just 13 seconds into the game.

Her shot was saved by ACU goalkeeper Lili Ross at the left front post to keep the game scoreless.

Northwestern attempted three of its eight total shots in the first 12 minutes of action, as the other two were attempted by Paige Baumgartner.

In total, Baumgartner led the Lady Demons, attempting three shots, with two on frame. No other NSU player had more than one shot attempt.

The eight total shot attempts and five on goal are the most taken this season by NSU.

The best chance for the home team came late in the first half off the foot of Taylor Spitzer.

Last year's leading scorer fired in a shot from close range, but it was stopped by Ross. The ACU goalkeeper bobbled it momentarily, but gathered it in.

The Wildcats led 6-5 in first half shots and applied pressure immediately in the second half.

Much like Ruggiano in the first half, ACU's Chayse Thorn attempted a shot less than two minutes in, forcing Libe Banuelos to make the save.

"When Libe was called upon, she rose to the task," Brophy said. "That was great to see, considering she battling a bit of an illness today."

Thorn attempted a game-high five shots for the Wildcats, one of which was on frame.

In the second half, the Wildcats out-shot the Lady Demons 10-3, but NSU did not go without chances.

Emily Senatore produced the best chance for NSU in the second half, but was robbed by a leaping Julia Herges, who played the second half after Ross played the first.

Of ACU's 10 shots in the second half, one stood above the rest as the most dangerous. Following a turnover, ACU's Amelia Leggett fired a clean look at frame, but Banuelos was equal to the task, robbing Leggett of her first goal of the season.

Banuelos stopped all three shots she faced to record her fifth career shutout, which ties her for ninth in school history with Wendy Woodham (1996-99).

Leggett had three shots in the contest and the only other Wildcat with more than one was Raelin Miller, who attempted one.

The Lady Demons are back at home Friday evening when they go for victory No. 1 against Jackson State before ending the weekend with a trip to Alabama A&M on Sunday.