HAMMOND, La. –    Junior Maddie Kresevic scored off a pass from sophomore Christina Cutura with less than 10 minutes remaining to lift Southeastern Louisiana to a 2-1 non-conference win over Mississippi Valley State Friday night at Strawberry Stadium.

    Kresevic's first goal of the season broke a stalemate after each team netted a goal in the first half. Laadi Issaka's first goal of the season gave Mississippi Valley (0-3) an early 1-0 lead before sophomore Sofia Olsson tied it with her first goal of 2016 midway through the half off a corner by junior Maggie Ramsey.

    "In the second half, the emphasis was on speed of play and creating opportunities," Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. "We got several opportunities and we got the one home that opened the game up for us a little bit. Their team played very well tonight. They played with a lot of heart. A lot of credit goes to Mississippi Valley State."

    Southeastern (2-2-1) out-shot Mississippi Valley 34-5, including 19-2 in the second half. MSVU keeper Rita Gyasi made 13 saves, including five in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. She pulled in a liner by sophomore Vanessa Arzaluz at the 54:47 mark, then leapt to knock a shot by Ramsey over the net at 59:11. Olsson just missed wide on a header at the 71:47 mark.

    MVSU had an opportunity at the 74:12 as Issaka found Karenth Terrazas on the break but senior keeper Hope Sabadash went down to her knees to pull in Terrazas' low liner.

    Gyasi blocked a shot by senior Casey Peacock at the 78:13 mark. Peacock slipped past Gyasi for the rebound but had her shot blocked by the Devilette defense. MVSU also came up with blocks on shots by Kresevic and Ramsey over the next minute.

    Southeastern broke the tie when Kresevic took a cross from Cutura from the left side and drilled a shot past Gyasi at the 80:05 mark.

    "We were hoping to find that space in the box to play to," Hornbuckle said. "We got a nice service in and Maddie K was composed and knocked it past the keeper." 

    Gyasi kept it a one-goal match by diving to her right to deflect a shot by Olsson at the 82:23 mark but the Devilettes could not get another shot off.

    MVSU went on the attack early with Mariana Balbao and Sarah Cenary sending shots wide. The Devilettes then took a 1-0 lead when Issaka collected a loose ball about 40 yards out, drove in and slipped a shot past Sabadash at the 9-minute mark.

    After Gyasi saved shots by Olsson and freshman Linda Karlsson, Olsson took a corner from Ramsey in a crowd in front and knocked in the equalizer at the 24:09 mark.

    Southeastern will hit the road for the first time in two weeks when the Lady Lions visit in-state rival Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday at 6 p.m.