CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Southland Conference Player of the Year Olivia Draguicevich scored on a header in the 79^th minute as Northwestern State edged the Southeastern Louisiana University women's soccer team Friday in the semifinals of the 2021 Southland Conference Women's Soccer Tournament at Dr. Jack Dugan Track and Soccer Complex.
  
The Lady Lions (7-9-3, 4-5-3 Southland) withstood 11 corner kicks in the first half and got four saves from second team All-Southland goalkeeper Nadine Maher.
 
Northwestern State (11-5-2, 10-2-0 Southland) outshot SLU 9-2 in the first half but the match remained scoreless at halftime despite the Lady Demons controlling the tempo.
 
"I thought the players executed the game plan really well," said fifth-year SLU soccer head coach Chris McBride. "We knew that Northwestern State would come out fresh and push us in the first half so we would have to weather the storm a little bit and we did."
 
In the second half, the Lady Lions reversed the tide as they had five shots in the first 15 minutes of the half and pushed the Lady Demons to the brink.
 
"I thought we came out in the second half and did what we wanted," said McBride. "We were able to get some good looks but just were unable to cash in unfortunately."
 
Megan Gordon nearly scored the match's first goal in the 50^th minute on a header. However, Southland Keeper of the Year Acelya Aydogmus made the diving save to keep the match scoreless.
 
Later in the half, SLU's Lexie Gundersen got a loose ball inside the box and fired a shot to the bottom left corner that Aydogmus just barely deflected in the 70^th minute.
 
Northwestern was finally able to sneak one past Maher, the reigning Southland Tournament MVP, who had been spectacular for the entire match. Draguicevich took the throw in and got an auspicious bounce. The Lady Demons' forward sent a header that inched past Maher for the goal in the 79^th minute.
 
Southeastern, the 2020 Southland Tournament Champions, didn't give up. With just seven minutes remaining, SLU's Maycie Massingill got open in front of the net and sent a shot to the bottom right corner. But Aydogmus was there to save it just inches from the goal line as Northwestern State hung on for the win advancing to the Southland Tournament Championship.
 
The 2021 season had its share of bumps in the road for Southeastern. The Lady Lions went 38 days without a home game due to Hurricane Ida and played eight straight matches on the road (4-3-1). SLU also played Friday's match on their shortest turnaround of the season, 34 hours.
 
"I'm so proud of this team for all the adversity they have overcome," said McBride. "Not just this year, but last year with COVID. Nothing has been easy for them and they have fought and battled every step of the way. And tonight's match was no different. Even though we didn't get the result we wanted, the effort tonight was terrific. We fought every step of the way and I thought played well for most of the match. But Northwestern made one more play than we did."
 
The Lady Demons finished the match with 19 shots while SLU had 10. NSU also had 14 corner kicks to three for Southeastern. Maher finished with nine saves for the match.
 
With Friday's loss, the storied careers of Maher, Gordon, Gundersen, Jamie Raines and Mia Milton came to end.
 
"All five of them mean everything to me," said McBride. "They bought into the program from day one and I'll always be thankful for that. It's been a privilege to be their coach and I thank them for every single day of hard work they've brought to the program." 
 
It's been an impressive run for McBride and the Lady Lions as they went 439 minutes without a allowing a goal in the Southland Tournament. Despite Friday's loss, the bumpy road for the 2021 Lady Lions ended with an effort worth a curtain call.
 
SCORE ONE MORE CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the women's soccer program are encouraged to join the Score One More Club.  Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Score One More Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern soccer program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
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