Box Score and Play-by-Play

THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's soccer team (6-6-1, 0-4-0 Southland Conference) fell victim to another high-powered conference rival on Friday afternoon as the Colonels fell to the first-place Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks (11-3-1, 4-0-1 Southland) by a final of 3-0.  The Ladyjack win, combined with a UTSA tie at McNeese put SFA in a tie for first place in the Southland Conference standings.

The Colonels defense held strong against an SFA attack that had notched non-conference victories over regional powers such as Louisiana Tech, Arkansas and Houston.  SFA's only three losses on the year have come by way of one-goal defeats to Oklahoma and Texas-El Paso as well as a 3-1 loss to Rice. 

However, SFA was able to find the back of the net in the 11th minute on a shot from the top of the box by Melissa Gaudet to make it 1-0.  The Colonel defense, depleted by injury and missing a pair of regular starters, regrouped to keep the Ladyjacks off the board for another 27 minutes, but SFA took advantage of a couple of quick strikes to go up 3-0.  SFA got a goal from Kylie Louw off a cross from Megan Wasiak to go up 2-0 at the 37:42 mark, and, just over a minute later, the Colonels were called for a handball in the penalty box.  SFA's Jordan King buried the ensuing penalty kick to make it 3-0 in the 39th minute.

The Nicholls defense once again regrouped and kept SFA off the board for the remainder of the match.  The Colonels whethered 12 second half shots by the Ladyjacks, with redshirt junior goalkeeper Molly Mersereau making five of her six saves in the second half.

Unfortunately, the Nicholls offense couldn't manage much against the SFA defense.  The Colonels were outshot 18-2 on the afternoon with SFA keeper Courtney Bauder being forced to make just one save.

Nicholls best chances of the match came on a first half free kick at the 30 minute mark and a corner kick late in the second half.  However, both kicks from junior midfielder Sam Etherington  were cleared by the SFA defense after bouncing around the penalty box in heavy traffic.

The Colonels will return to aciton on Sunday when they host the Sam Houston State Bearkats at 1 p.m. at the Nicholls soccer complex.