Box Score and Play-by-Play

ITTA BENA, Miss. - The Nicholls State University women's soccer team (5-1-1) rebounded from their first loss of the season in record setting fashion on Sunday as the Colonels outlasted Mississippi Valley State 1-0 for their school record fifth win of the season.

Nicholls, which had won four matches in three different seasons (2003, 2006 and 2009) since the founding of the program in 1998, recorded their school record fifth win of the season by beating an MVSU squad that owned a 3-0 all-time record against the Colonels heading into Sunday's matchup.

After jumping out to a 4-0-1 start to the season, the Colonels suffered their first loss of the season with a 2-0 loss at ULL on Friday in their first crack at setting a new school wins record.  However, the Colonels had their work cut out for them on Sunday in their attempt to rebound from the ULL loss.

Nicholls found itself in a highly physical match with the Devilettes as 28 fouls (16 for Nicholls, 12 for MVSU) were called on the day. 

Neither side could break through early on as the two teams managed just three combined shots in the first half.  The Colonels began wearing down MVSU in the second half, recording 11 second half shots compared to just three by the Devillettes.  However, the MVSU defense held firm for most of the second half as the Devillettes turned away the Colonels through the first 84 minutes.

However, Nicholls continued its offensive pressure until finally breaking through in the 85th minute as freshman midfielder Kelsea Nash delivered her first career goal off a cross from junior midfielder Carolyn Noble at the 84:40 mark.

The Colonel defense held throughout the game as the Nicholls defense allowed just three shots on goal, which redshirt junior Molly Mersereau stopped for her third shutout of the season.

Nicholls will return to action on Friday, Sept. 24 when the Colonels conclude a stretch of eight consecutive matches away from Thibodaux to open the season when the Colonels head to Louisiana Tech.

After their trip to Ruston, the Colonels will return to Nicholls on Sept. 26 to host their first on-campus match of the regular season against Grambling.