LAKE CHARLES – Another sluggish start followed by a last-ditch attempt towards the end of Sunday afternoon's Southland Conference contest doomed the McNeese women's soccer team who dropped its third consecutive league contest to Northwestern State, 2-1, at home.
 
It was the second time in as many games that the Cowgirls surrendered a goal within the first 10 minutes of the contest and the first time since 2013 that McNeese fell to Northwestern State on the pitch.
 
With the loss, the Cowgirls fall to 4-6 overall and 0-3 in league action while the Lady Demons improved to 5-5 on the year and 2-1 in SLC play.
 
"I am disappointed," said head coach Drew Fitzgerald. "Three games we've failed to step on the field ready to play then made a push to get back in the match. At some point we have to decide to compete for 90 minutes. Give credit to Northwestern State, they competed the whole 90 minutes."
 
Northwestern State's April Trowbridge took advantage of a ricochet kick and netted the first goal of the game at the 9:21 mark to give the Lady Demons an early 1-0 lead.
 
Northwestern State upped its lead to two scores in the 17^th minute of action as Lady Demon Parry Carrion scored her first goal of the season off of a free kick following a McNeese foul.
 
Junior Sara Ortiz provided the only score for the Cowgirls when she scored her first goal on the year in the 22^nd minute after receiving a cross from junior Savannah LaRicci to cut the Northwestern State lead to a 2-1 score. LaRicci received the assist on the play and now leads the team with 16 points this season.
 
Following the break, both teams battled it out through the next 45 minutes with each squad taking its fair share of close shots. McNeese attempted 10 shots in the second half while Northwestern State was limited to only two.
 
However, the Cowgirls were unable to get anything going offensively and could not take advantage of its seven corner kick attempts in the last 45 minutes of play. Junior Gabi D'Alesandro had a good luck on a free kick with two seconds left in the game but watched on as the Lady Demon goalkeeper knocked it away from the net.
 
Freshman Rachel Palet led the team with three shots on the day while she and LaRicci both had two shots on goal. Cowgirl goalie Annie Bravenec played the whole match and provided two saves along the way.
 
McNeese will hit the road next weekend with matches against Sam Houston State on Friday, Sept. 30 and at Stephen F. Austin on Sunday, Oct. 2. The Cowgirls' next home match will come against Nicholls Friday, Oct. 7.