LAKE CHARLES, La. –  Southeastern Louisiana held an opponent scoreless in the second half for the sixth time this season but could not overcome a pair of first half goals by McNeese in a 2-0 loss in the Southland Conference opener Friday night at Cowgirl Field

    Freshman goalkeeper Michaela Hawthorn recorded eight saves for the Lady Lions (2-5-1, 0-1 SLC). Junior defender Sofia Olsson and junior midfielder Vanessa Arzaluz had shots on goal.

    Savannah LaRicci and Nola Prickett scored for McNeese (5-2-1, 1-0 SLC) which won its third straight. Emma Roccaforte made two saves.

    LaRicci put McNeese up 1-0 in the 11^th minute after taking a pass from Gabi D'Alesandro.

    The Cowgirls extended the lead to 2-0 in the 31^st minute after Prickett converted off a pass from Rebecca Adcock.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
    Hawthorn saved a shot by LaRicci in the opening minute.

    Olsson took Southeastern's first shot in the 46^th made but had it saved by Roccaforte.
  
    Hawthorn stopped a shot by Morgan Middleton in the 47^th minute.
  
    Roccaforte saved another attempt by Arzaluz off a corner by redshirt-junior Maggie Ramsey in the 51^st minute.
  
    Hawthorn denied a shot by Rachel Palet in the 56^th minute, then saved an attempt by LaRicci seven minutes later.
  
    Freshman defender Tilly Hallas-Potts had her shot blocked in the 74^th minute.
  
    Hawthorn picked up her final save against Anna Watson in the 89^th minute.
 
NOTES
   McNeese ended Southeastern's six-match win streak in the series. It was the Cowgirls' first win over the Lady Lions since 2011 and their first in Lake Charles since 2008.
 
   Southeastern still leads the series, 20-8-5.
 
   The Lady Lions' lost their Southland opener for the first time since 2012.
 
   LaRicci's goal was her third of the season while Prickett scored her second. D'Alesandro had her second attempt and Adcock her first.
 
   McNeese out-shot the Lady Lions 9-0 in the first half and 15-3 for the match.
 
QUOTES
Southeastern head coach Chris McBride:
   "It was a physical game. McNeese came out and defended well and moved the ball well. The forwards attacked some crosses and made two good goals in the first half. We came out a little bit slow but we came out in the second half and matched their intensity. The second half was better but we just couldn't find the back of the net."
 
UP NEXT
   Southeastern returns home to host Abilene Christian in Southland action Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. The first 100 fans will be able to receive a free ice cream cone for National Ice Cream Cone Day. The match is also Greek Night and Southeastern Greeks are invited to set up their couches/blankets in the north end zone.