DALLAS—The Northwestern State soccer team could not back up its first big win with another, as SMU scored early and held on for a 2-0 victory Sunday evening at Washburne Stadium.

NSU (1-1) aimed for a 2-0 trip against power conference opponents in the state of Texas, but had to settle for a split, as SMU (1-1) scored in the fifth minute, and it held up.

"I'm really proud of the group," head coach Ian Brophy said. "I'm really proud of the effort and the intensity we had during the game. I thought we fought really well. We created scoring chances.

"Overall, it felt like a 1-0 game, and I felt like we played right there with them and with our chances to score, we could have easily made it 1-1. Overall, I am really proud of the group and proud of the way we competed against two power four opponents this weekend. That is a real testament to the team and players."

After an interception on an outlet pass from the back, the Mustangs took advantage of their first and best opportunity of the game off the interception and score from transfer Sarah Bonnecaze.

"That first goal is on me," Brophy said. "We build out of the back and that is the way I want us to play, so when those types of goals go in, that's on me."

It stayed that way until a foul in the box caused a penalty kick in the 76^th minute, which was converted by SMU off the foot of Lindsay Nicholson.

Through the first 12 minutes, that goal from Bonnecaze was the only shot attempt of the game before the Mustangs began to pepper NSU goalkeeper Kennedy Rist with three straight shot attempts, but Rist was there to keep the deficit at one.

After making 13 stops Thursday at Texas, Rist made six more against the Mustangs.

"Kennedy was brilliant again and kept us in it," Brophy said. "She made some great saves to keep us in the game.

"Despite not scoring a goal, Emily Senatore's defensive intensity and was able to get us in the attack, that was great to see again. There were several really good performances."

SMU out-shot NSU 27-6, but NSU had three either hit the crossbar or the post, starting with freshman Kendall Hemperley in the 16^th minute.

Hemperley's first shot of the game hit the crossbar but could not find the equalizer. The Mustangs outshot the Demons 17-2 in the first half and 27-6 overall.

Against Texas, NSU came out swinging in the second half, but SMU kept its foot on the gas pedal in the second half, as the Mustangs recorded three shot attempts and had three corner kicks in the first 3:32 of the second half, forcing a pair of Rist saves.

NSU's best chances came in the 62^nd minute, as Hosane Soukou's bid for another goal hit the left post before the ball ricocheted out and Madison Murphy's shot off the rebound sailed wide right.

In the 76^th minute, a foul off a corner kick gave the Mustangs an opportunity to double the advantage, which they cashed in on Nicholson's penalty kick goal, one of her five shot attempts in the game, tied for the most shot attempts in the game, tied with teammate Liz Eddy.

Ravina Sandhu attempted a shot 25 seconds after the SMU goal, but the Mustangs defense held the Demons without a shot for the final 13 minutes of the game to seal the win.

The six shot attempts by NSU were all attempted by six different players.

The Demons finish off their Texas road swing with a trip to Tarleton State on Thursday before heading back to Natchitoches to play in front of the home crowd for the first time this season against Alcorn.