LAKE CHARLES – It looked as though the McNeese State women's soccer team would avoid overtime play for the first time in three matches following Michelle Petrarca's first goal of season before Stephen F. Austin responded with two unanswered goals that would eventually down the Cowgirls in overtime, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Cowgirl Field.
 
"We have really competed hard and we are right there but we just havn't been able to catch a break," said McNeese head coach Scooter Savoie. "I thought that we came out well early and readjusted when we needed to."
 
A scoreless first half sent both teams to the sidelines at halftime to readjust and think about different strategies that would help their team in the latter part of the game.
 
In the last several matches, it was the opposition that took the early advantage, but the Cowgirls were determined to keep history from repeating itself.
 
Petrarca's second career goal was scored in the 73^rd minute of the match after heading in one of the most beautiful crosses off of a corner kick from junior Bettina Brulhart to put McNeese up 1-0 over the Ladyjacks.
 
McNeese's goal was the first scored against a Stephen F. Austin squad since the 2010 season.
 
"That goal was huge for us in that it gave us a spark," said Savoie. "She was free on one shot and missed it but got another shot and took advantage. It was a powerful header that was driven in and it was scored at the right time. We were doing a great job at finishing the game out before an unfortunate penalty kick was called which scrambled everything.
 
SFA's Rachel Owens provided the equalizer just minutes after watching her team go down a goal as a handball foul in the box provided her an opportunity to score on a penalty kick. Owen's kick landed in the left side of the net as it passed the Cowgirl goalie to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Neither team could find any offensive advantage in the closing minutes of regulation as McNeese staved off a last minute shot from the Ladyjacks and would enter its fourth consecutive overtime contest. Sunday's match set a program record for consecutive overtime games played in a row.
 
Midway through the first overtime period, SFA's Madison Hall connected with teammate Hannah Barker, who in turn, scored the game-winning goal for the Ladyjacks.
 
The loss was heavy on the hearts of the Cowgirls who have never stopped fighting and have found a way to provide themselves with a winning opportunity in each match. Nevertheless, McNeese walked off the field with it head held high and focused on its next conference match within the coming week.
 
"We are doing well in holding some of these top teams but we preach not to get absorbed in the results," said Savoie. "The playing process has proven that we can compete and are giving ourselves opportunities to win rather than holding on. We just have to keep believing in the process."
 
Senior goalkeeper Maggie Marks turned in five more saves on Sunday, totaling her mark at 16 on the weekend. Marks was instrumental in providing great plays within the net this weekend.
 
Petrarca and freshman Nola Prickett each had two of the team's eight total shots on the day. The two leading shooters and freshman Sarah Clayton each turned in a shot on goal.
 
Stephen F. Austin recorded 23 total shots in the match while McNeese was held to eight. The Ladyjacks also held the advantage in corner kicks, 8-3.
 
The Cowgirls will be back in action Friday when they travel to Thibodaux to take on Nicholls in their next SLC matchup. The game is slated to kick off at 4 p.m.