Box Score and Play-by-Play

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - The Nicholls State University women's soccer team (0-0-1) found itself in a defensive struggle in their season opening match at the Holiday Inn-Waller College Invitational.  The Colonels couldn't break through against the host Prairie View A&M Panthers (0-0-1).  Fortunately for Nicholls, their defense proved equally tough, stopping all PVAMU scoring chances through 110 minutes of play as the Colonels and Panthers battled to a 0-0 double overtime final on Friday night.

Nicholls fired off 18 shots and put six on goal.  However, PVAMU goalkeeper Melissa Aguayo stopped all six shots on goal and the 12 remaining Colonel shots were forced off target.  Junior midfielder Sam Etherington recorded four shots, putting two on goal and freshman midfielder Alexandra Marino put all three of her shots on target.

"We just couldn't score," head coach Dylan Harrison said.  "We had a lot of oportunities, but we just couldn't get through.  Sometimes you're just unlucky.  Defensively, we played well.  We only gave them one or two decent chances, but we turned those away and shut down everything else."

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Molly Mersereau recorded her first shutout of the season, turning away every shot she faced.  Mersereau, who finished second in the Southland Conference in saves in 2009, stopped all four Panther shots on goal.  Meanwhile, the Nicholls defense limited PVAMU to just nine shots on the night, forcing five off target.

The Colonels will return to action on Sunday when they face Alcorn State.  Kickoff with the Braves is set for 10:00 a.m.