LAKE CHARLES – Freshman striker Nola Prickett's goal with under six minutes remaining in the match lifted the McNeese State women's soccer team to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Nicholls in one of the most bizarre and competitive matches in the history of the series.
 
The victory broke a string of two consecutive losses and four straight overtime contests for McNeese (5-7, 2-4 SLC) who needed a win Friday to keep its postseason hopes alive.
 
"This was a great win and an important win for us this evening," said McNeese head coach Scooter Savoie. "This team has become a bit of a rivalry match with us over the last couple of years so tonight was very good for us."
 
After scoring in the opening minutes of the match, the Cowgirls squandered their lead to Nicholls (3-8-1, 1-5 SLC) who held a 2-1 advantage over its opponent headed into the half.
 
"We started off well and scored right off the bat and had good possession but didn't do the things we needed to do," said Savoie. We left ourselves exposed and that abled them to get ahead late in the first half."
 
Most of the second half consisted of a battle between the two squads who traded possession but were unable to get anything going offensively. McNeese was preparing for another overtime battle until a costly mistake from their opposition enabled the Cowgirls to take advantage.
 
It seemed as though McNeese had been cursed once again as it had in its previous three contests that resulted in overtime losses until a bizarre series of events led to an equalizer goal provided by junior Kayla Goedicke. The Nicholls keeper picked up the ball by accident during play giving Goedicke an opportunity to shoe the ball in from about ten feet out to tie the game at 2-2. Junior Bettina Brulhart was given the assist on the play.
 
"We were able to wake up in the second half and did a much better job in playing our positions and getting numbers forward," said Savoie. "I think we did a much better job at changing the point of attack and open our play up."
 
"At some point we felt like they were going to break them in terms of getting a goal and we did," said Savoie. "Kayla (Goedicke) got her second goal so that was big and then to come back and get the game-winner at the end was very big for our program."
 
In the 84th minute, Prickett took advantage of a distraught Colonels team that had just surrendered a one goal lead minutes earlier and was able to tip in her second game-winning shot of the season past the Nicholls goalkeeper. McNeese then held on over the final six minutes and celebrated the victory with relief of having finally overcome adversity. Sophomore Gabi D'Alesandro, who exited the game with two assists, assisted Prickett's winner. She now has four total on the year.
 
"This victory was huge for our program and I am excited for the girls," said Savoie. "It was a great team effort which was what one this game today."
 
The Cowgirls took a one-goal lead just two minutes into the match as Goedicke tallied her first of two netters in the game. Goedicke tapped in the shot off of a cross from D'Alesandro to go up.
 
Nicholls answered in the 13^th minute with tie the ballgame up at 1-1 before taking a lead that would hold for the next 51 minutes.
 
Senior defender Sarah Bricker made history during the match becoming the all-time leader in minutes played. Since joining the team in 2012, Bricker has played a total of 6,195 minutes on the pitch, surpassing Erin Leighton for the top spot.
 
Senior goalkeeper Maggie Marks was excellent in the goal Friday evening as she came up with four big saves that attributed to McNeese's rally over the Colonels. Marks now has 25 saves in six appearances this season.
 
Both teams took an even number of shot attempts with 12 apiece while McNeese held the advantage in corner kicks, 4-3.
 
The Cowgirls will return home for two Southland Conference matches next weekend when they play host to Incarnate Word on Oct. 16 and Abilene Christian on Oct. 18.