HAMMOND, La. - For the first time since the Crystal Cup has been up for grabs, the Nicholls State University women's soccer team brought home the rivalry trophy after a 2-2 draw against Southeastern Sunday night at Strawberry Stadium.

Although the teams officially tied, Nicholls (4-7-3, 1-3-2 SLC) claimed the Cup after winning it on penalty kicks. The tie also snapped a 12-match losing streak in the all-time series against Southeastern (3-6-4, 2-2-2 SLC).

Nicholls trailed 1-0 after the first half before Sammi Doyle evened the match with her second goal of the season. Mylea Riggle found Doyle about 25 yards out in front of the net and she fired a shot off the crossbar and into the goal in the 57th minute.

Then in the 73rd minute, Lillie Mazur put a header off the crossbar off a corner kick and Kaylie Harris was there for the rebound, knocking in her second goal of the week for a 2-1 lead.

But the Colonels could not hang on to the lead after Aja Nelson scored her second goal of the day, tying the match at 2-2 in the 82nd minute.

Nicholls outshot Southeastern for the match, 16-12, with eight on target. Harris and Doyle led the attack with a combined seven shots. It marked the first time the Colonels had the advantage in shots in league play since their second match in 2023. 

The Red and Gray also secured consecutive points in the SLC for the first time since 2016.

Aislinn Wright finished the night with four saves.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will close out the season with three of its final four matches at home, starting with a Thursday night (Oct. 16) contest against UTRGV. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.