NATCHITOCHES, La. – Sophomore Sara Ortiz scored a golden goal with just under five minutes left in the second overtime period giving the McNeese State women's soccer team a dramatic 2-1 win over Southland Conference foe Northwestern State at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex Sunday.

The victory brought about a number of firsts for the Cowgirls (4-5, 1-2 SLC) who have clawed their way back from a five-game skid and pick up their first points in league play this season. Ortiz's game-winner was also the first of her colligate career as she became the eighth different McNeese player to score a goal this season.

"That was a very good victory for our team today in double overtime," said McNeese head coach Scooter Savoie. "We had a tough time sorting Northwestern State out early so to get the counter goal in the first half gave us some breathing room. We got a quality win on a tough road trip this weekend and got some points. We were able to display some character this weekend as well after having to battle back from a double overtime loss on Friday."

McNeese scored the game's first goal in the eighth minute when Bettina Brulhart chipped in a shot to the upper right corner of the net. It was the first time since August 28 that the Cowgirls had netted the first goal of the match. Brulhart's goal was her team-leading third of the season. Junior Kayla Goedicke added to her goal on Friday with an assist on the first goal.

Northwestern State (3-6-2, 0-2-1 SLC) tied the game when a long send off found the Lady Demons' BB face-to-face with McNeese goalie Lauren Sestak. The two collided and the shot was able to tip in at the 27:35 mark of the match to knot the score.

"I do believe that we were able to get better organized as the game went along," said Savoie. "They were able to get a goal early on and Lauren Sestak had a lot of courage to come out and take the shooter one-on-one. Unfortunately, they collided and the ball went into the net."

The collision sidelined Sestak with a diagnosed mild concussion while senior Maggie Marks was called upon to help her Cowgirl squad against a scrappy Northwestern State team.

"Maggie did a really good job for us in keeping our team organized after Sestak was sideline with an injury," said Savoie.  "She came up with a couple of big plays to help keep us in the contest."

Marks withstood a barrage of shots to keep the slate clean for the final 88 minutes and added three saves to her credit to pick up her first win of the season.

Both teams had several scoring chances throughout the remainder of regulation. The Cowgirls had a chance when a blast from a Cowgirl striker from about 20 yards out deflected off the hands of the Lady Demon goalie and was headed back towards the net from a wide-open Brulhart but again was saved by NSU.

The game remained tied for the remainder of regulation and the first overtime. The Lady Demons seemed to control most of the action leading in shots taken.

In the second overtime, both teams were slowing down due to physical play that sideline players from each respective squad.

Then, Ortiz scored the game-winner in the 105th minute on a great effort that was corralled by a group of Cowgirls before finding the Moreno Valley, CA native. Her shot from just outside the box seemed to deflect and almost swayed to not reach the net but ended up taking a favorable bounce past the goalkeeper outstretched hands into he goal at the mark

Brulhart was credited with the assist on the play and now leads in total points this season with three goals and one assist.

"The overtime goal was a good setup that involved Brulhart, Gabi D'Alesandro who got the ball in the hands of Ortiz who was able to deflect off of a defender and past the goalie to get us the game winner," said Savoie.

Northwestern State held the advantage in shots taken, 17-12, while both teams tied in three corner kicks apiece.

Sunday's victory was the first time since the 2008-2009 seasons that McNeese had scored two consecutive victories over Northwestern State and the first time since 2012 that the Cowgirls had one in Natchitoches.

McNeese will be back in action this weekend as they return home for a pair of key Southland Conference matchups at Cowgirl Field. The Pokes will face off against Sam Houston State on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by one of their toughest matches of the season against Stephen F. Austin Sunday with kickoff slated for 1 o'clock.