Final Stats HATTIESBURG, Miss – The Nicholls State University soccer team upset Southern Mississippi 2-1 on Friday afternoon in the Colonels' regular season opener at the Bell Track & Field Soccer Complex.
 
The win marks the first time in program history that the Colonels (1-0-0) defeated the Golden Eagles (0-1-0). In the five previous matchups Nicholls was outscored 23-1. The most recent matchup between the two programs was a 6-0 shutout by Southern Miss in Head Coach Dylan Harrison's first game with the Colonels in 2009.
 
"Everything we had a chance to see made us really believe in our team," Harrison said. "Our players, whether off the bench or starting, can have a huge impact on the game. It was a huge team victory for us today and we look to keep it rolling."
 
Southern Miss came out aggressive early, taking a 1-0 lead behind Rebekah McMullan's goal, assisted by Beann Hedin, just five minutes into the game.
 
The Colonels rebounded in the 37th minute when a pass from Kaitlyn Caro hit Kristy Tatom, who chipped a shot over the head of Golden Eagle goalie Brittany Taylor for Nicholls' first point of the game.
 
The Colonels scored again just two minutes later when Kaitlyn Caro found Kirstie Champagne streaking to the front of the box and her shot snuck inside the right corner of the goal.
 
Nicholls played keep-away in the second half behind a tremendous defensive effort from goalie Taylor Mosley who finished with six saves. In one sequence, Mosley dove, blocking a Southern Miss shot, and barely got to her feet before diving in the opposite direction to block a second shot only seconds later. With just two minutes remaining, Mosley raced forward and dove on top of the ball just seconds before a shot from the Golden Eagles, preventing the would-be tying goal and preserving the win.
 
It was a complete team victory with 20 different Nicholls players seeing time on the pitch.
 
The Colonels travel to Mobile to face South Alabama at 1 p.m. on Sunday.