Final Stats HUNTSVILLE, Texas – After a scoreless first half of play, two early second half goals by Sam Houston State would be enough to hold off the Nicholls State University women's soccer team and pull out a 2-0 win Friday night in Huntsville.

With the loss the Colonels fall to 5-6 on the season and 0-1 in the Southland, while Sam Houston State improves to 4-7 and 1-0.

The Colonels were held to eight total shots on the night and three shots on goal, while the Bearkats fired off 14 with five shots on goal. Of the eight for Nicholls, five came in the first half, while Sam Houston got seven in each half.

Missy McGuire led the Colonels in shots with three on the night, followed by Lauren O'Brien's two. Jess Coates, Annie Newell and Spencer Valdespino each finished with one.

Haley Golden (4-1) took her first loss of the year earning her first conference start, allowing two goals with three saves, while Sam Houston State's Kylie Hambleton allowed none with three saves.

Although the Colonels did have six less shots than the Bearkats on the night, Nicholls was able to get six corner kicks in the match to Sam Houston's four. Nicholls also accumulated more fouls as well, earning 12 to Sam Houston's eight.

Sam Houston State's Tricia Mallory scored the first goal of the game in the 54th minute, getting the assist from Amanda Biega. The second Bearkat goal came four minutes later in the 58th minute from Kirby Zak with the assist going to Kayla Anderson.

Zak led the Bearkats with three total shots on the night, as she was one of nine Sam Houston State players to earn at least one shot opportunity.

The team returns to the pitch on Sunday afternoon, playing the Lamar Cardinals in Beaumont at 1 p.m.