SAN ANTONIO—Northwestern State controlled much of the possession but could not find the back of the net in a 2-0 loss on the road to UIW at Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium.
NSU (5-6, 2-1) saw its five-game winning streak come to an end, while UIW (6-5-2, 3-1) moved into sole possession of first place in the Southland Conference.
It is also the first time the Demons have been shut out since falling at Houston in August and UIW's defense has now allowed just three goals in the last five games and never more than one in a single contest.
"I didn't think we were good," head coach
Ian Brophy said. "I thought we didn't show up ready for the match and felt like we struggled through large portions of the match and to really play our football. We just weren't good enough tonight."
UIW found the scoreboard first on a corner kick in the 24
th minute, as the ball was pinballed around and ultimately wound up with Atiana Lara, who sent it home top left corner to take the lead on an assist from Hayden Kish.
Early in the second, UIW added to the lead. Tyler Coker added the Cardinals second goal in the 52
nd minute off a boot into the box that Demons goalkeeper
Audrey Marfia couldn't quite collect the ball, and it bounced free and Coker sent it to the back of the net to double the lead.
NSU had chances to draw closer in the final 45 minutes, perhaps none bigger than
Bonnie Miller's shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and then UIW goalkeeper Hannah Alexander knocked it out for a corner.
NSU had another chance late off a turnover, as
Alexia Adimmah had an opportunity, but the UIW defense scrambled back to boot it out and just force a corner kick.
"UIW worked really hard defensively," Brophy said. "If anything, I thought they outworked us and were willing to put in the work and put in tackles and put their body on the line."
The Demons added nice chances in the first half, including a shot attempt from
Gabriela Page in the 22
nd minute, but her attempt was saved by Alexander, who recorded nine saves to keep NSU off the scoreboard.
NSU led the shot attempts overall 15-8 and 9-4 in shots on goal, with Miller recording a team-high four shot attempts, but the Cardinals were able to capitalize when it mattered the most.
Coker led the home team with four of the Cardinals eight shot attempts.
Demons leading scorer
Paige Baumgartner had some chances, but she just missed on a few opportunities.
UIW guarded the box and Demons away from the net for any grade-A chances and narrowly missed when they had opportunities.
"It felt like when we created really good situations, the ball was just a little over, a little wide, not quite making the goalkeeper make a save," Brophy said. "The stats are a little bit deceiving because I felt like we put a lot of non-dangerous chances where she was able to make saves, but we've got to do a better job of when we're in a good situation, making sure we test her and put it on frame."
Next up for the Demons is a return home to face East Texas A&M on Thursday, the first home game in two weeks before rounding out the weekend with a trip to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
