NACOGDOCHES, Texas—Northwestern State came back from a deficit three times and
Tiana Cruz scored in the 85
th minute to give the team a 4-3 victory at Stephen F. Austin on Sunday at the SFA Soccer Field.
After dropping its first five contests of the season, NSU (5-5, 2-0) has won five in a row to take the lead, including taking the first two in Southland Conference play against its two biggest rivals.
"Obviously, it was a really good result, coming from behind three separate times," head coach
Ian Brophy said. "That was a heck of a game if you're a neutral fan, but it was a little too for my heart. Overall, it was a good and exciting game and I am glad we were able to get the goals we needed to put it away, especially that fourth one to put us in front.
"It just goes to show your or resiliency and we've shown it all year, and that was on display today, coming back from a goal down three times and then getting the lead late."
Cruz, who scored her fifth goal in five games, found the back of the net for the deciding goal in the 85
th minute.
Emily Gundin won a fight for the ball and crossed it to Cruz, who sent it home top left of the goal.
"Everybody put in great effort on the play, and they were able to find me," Cruz said. "It was a really great ball from Emily, but that goal wouldn't have been possible without everybody on the field."
It is Gundin's fifth assist of the season and 12
th career assist, which moves her into a tie for ninth in program history.
With the Demons clinging to a 4-3 lead in the final minutes, birthday girl
Audrey Marfia came through in the clutch, making a save to seal the win.
After a great ball into Savanna Oberholtzer, she was 1-on-1 with Marfia, but the Demons goalkeeper came out and made a stop that sealed the victory, as it was fitting that a high-scoring game was ended on a great save.
The teams alternated the first six goals, as SFA (4-8, 1-2) scored to take the lead three separate times.
The first time came in the ninth minute was a goal from Carlie Thurmond, who scored following a turnover and shot from the left side of the box that hit the right post and caromed in.
Alyce Chappelle scored twice for the Ladyjacks to pull ahead the next two times.
Each time was responded with a goal by the visitors.
Bonnie Miller scored her first two goals as a Demon with a pair of impressive shots from far out. Each time was massive to knot the game.
"It feels amazing to score those two goals, Miller said. "I definitely think it was a team effort. Everyone was helping each other and moving the ball really well. It definitely felt really good to score those two goals."
The first one came shortly after she took a corner—one of NSU's 17 corner kicks, the most in a game for NSU since 2006—and it bounced back to her and she attempted a long-distance shot that found the back of the net to the top right corner.
She then scored another from a similar distance in the 61
st minute.
Following another Chappelle goal, Gundin tied it back up with her second goal of the weekend on a header off a corner kick in the 73
rd minute.
That set the stage for the heroics from Cruz, who is having a breakout season for the Demons.
NSU dominated in shots 25-10, led by five each from Gundin and
Paige Baumgartner. Miller and
Riley Stern each had four.
Despite allowing four goals, SFA goalkeeper Brandie Musser kept the Ladyjacks in the game with 10 saves, many of which were difficult.
The Demons hit the road again Thursday when they face UIW for the only game this week before returning home Oct. 8 against East Texas A&M.
